Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising to about 4,808 m on the border between France and Italy. It forms the central massif of a major mountain chain and is a dominant feature of the surrounding alpine landscape.

The massif attracts mountaineers, skiers and alpine tourists and offers routes of varying technical difficulty on snow and rock. A high-elevation cable car and mountain infrastructure provide access to viewpoints and high camps, while glacier travel remains a component of many approaches.

The mountain was first climbed in the late 18th century and quickly became central to the development of mountaineering as a sport and scientific pursuit. Over the 19th and 20th centuries nearby towns developed hotels and transport links geared to alpine recreation.

Geographically it sits in the Mont Blanc massif on the France-Italy border near the French town of Chamonix and the Italian Aosta Valley, forming one of the principal high mountain destinations in Europe.

• Elevation and border location: The summit stands at about 4,808 m and the massif crosses the border region between France and Italy; approaches and routes vary in technical difficulty and exposure.
• First ascent: The first recorded ascent of the main summit took place in 1786, marking an early milestone in the history of alpinism.

What to See #

• Summit: Summit area that reaches 4,808 m and is the highest point in the Alps and western Europe; popular objective for mountaineers.
• Aiguille du Midi cable car: Aiguille du Midi ridge reached by a high-altitude cable car from a nearby mountain town, widely used by visitors to access high-Alpine viewpoints and routes.
• Mer de Glace glacier: A large valley glacier on the mountain's northern side that feeds lower-elevation ice and was historically important for early alpine tourism.