Welcome to the Mont-Blanc massif in Chamonix, for one of the most sensational adventures in the Alps: the ascent of the Aiguille du Midi, which stretches skywards at 3,842 m above sea level. To reach this legendary summit, which offers extraordinary views of the French and Italian Alps, you’ll need to board a cable car that will propel you to an altitude of 3,842 m in 20 minutes. Take advantage of your camping holiday near Annecy to make this vertiginous ascent and take away with you an indelible souvenir of your vacation in Haute-Savoie.
Aiguille du Midi cable car: a Swiss idea, a French realization
At the beginning of the 20th century, two Swiss engineers had an ambitious idea: to link the hamlet of Les Pèlerins to the summit of the Aiguille du Midi by cable car. They encountered several technical problems and were forced to throw in the towel. A few years later, a French company attracted by the idea succeeded in turning the project into reality. The first section of the ropeway, between Les Pèlerins and La Para, opened in 1924. Three years later, the second section to Les Glaciers was completed. Even before its completion, the Aiguille du Midi cableway was already the highest in the world. Work came to a halt during the Second World War. A new cable car, the one in operation today, was built in just 5 years, between 1951 and 1955, and completely renovated in 1991.
An exceptional panorama
Today, the Aiguille du Midi cable car provides access to one of the finest vantage points in the Alps. Visitors from all over the world take it every year to admire the highest peaks and glaciers in France, Italy and Switzerland. In summer, it’s not uncommon to catch a glimpse of the mountaineers who set out to conquer Mont Blanc on the high mountain trails and itineraries from ridge to ridge. To make the most of the scenery, there are terraces at the summit, at 3,482 m, where you can sit back and suspend time as you gaze out over the Chamonix valley. As well as Mont Blanc, you’ll have the chance to appreciate the contours of other Alpine giants such as Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and the Grand Combin.
A fabulous 16-minute ascent
From Chamonix, it takes 16 minutes to reach the northern peak of the Aiguille du Midi, with a vertical drop of over 2,700 m. The journey is made up of two 8-minute sections, separated by an intermediate station (Plan de l’Aiguille, 2,317 m). The Aiguille du Midi cableway is open all year round. In 2013, the summit’s main attraction was installed on the upper terrace: le Pas dans le vide. This is a glass cage suspended from the wall. As you step forward, you literally step into the void, a gap of almost 1,000 m beneath your feet. Before descending, you can enjoy a meal at 3842, one of the world’s highest restaurants, thousands of metres above sea level, with a splendid panoramic view.
Want more? From the Aiguille du Midi arrival station, take the Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola which links France and Italy. Whether you’re a mountaineer or not, you can also visit the sea of ice at the heart of the glacier in the mythical Vallée Blanche, or go snowboarding or off-piste skiing using the lifts in the region’s resorts! You can also try your hand at rock climbing.