Located on the border between Valle d'Aosta and France, the Mont Blanc with its almost 5 thousand meters high it is also called the King of the Alps. Its majestic grandeur urged the man of the past centuries towards the discovery of a massif that became the place of birth of mountaineering. Today it is an international tourist destination. Several activities can be practiced here thanks to a mountain that offers glaciers, precious minerals, ski slopes and renowned resorts such as Courmayeur. And then let's discover together the magic of highest peak in Europe.
The conquest of man
How many times do we happen to daydreaming. This is perhaps what happened to Horace De Saussure, a Swiss scientist and mountaineer who used to observe Mont Blanc from his home in Geneva. The greatness of a mountain up for grabs with a monetary reward whoever managed to climb it.
It was 1760 but dreams take time and work and only 26 years later Jacque Balmat and Michel Paccard made the first ascension. He was born so the history of mountaineering. L'8 August 1786 the deed was accomplished. The feet of the two climbers scratched the snow on the summit for the first time. A colossal undertaking for the time which even interested the Prussian baron Von Gersdorff. Passionate about the mountains, he followed the entire ascent with his telescope, noting everything in his diary. The conquest of Mont Blanc was a great albeit brief satisfaction. The two climbers stopped at the summit for only half an hour, just long enough to verify some scientific theories and make provisional measurements of the summit.
Stories of climbers
The birth of mountaineering moved the hearts of many climbers in an attempt to complete the conquest of Mont Blanc. So many of them were climbing professionals and experts but competence and knowledge were not always enough. Several i tragic accidents protagonists of the man-mountain challenge.
On the one hand, the will and the unstoppable desire to satisfy the most difficult goals. On the other Mont Blanc, as fascinating and hospitable as it is fearful and angry. Snowstorms and invisible crevasses, thin air and freezing temperatures.
Adverse conditions that drew fatal epilogues. Sadly known the Vincendon-Henry case and in 1956 the Freney tragedy in 1961 followed on live television by the most important news programs. But when man wins, then the mountain is a friend. With joy, history remembers them first climbs female, the nineteenth-century ones of Marie Paradis e Henriette d'Angeville. Even the different ones are described with emphasis and pride speed record uphill and downhill. From the Italian Fabio Meraldi in 1995 to the Spanish Kilian Burgada in 2012.
Tourist Mont Blanc
Expertly described in the stories of international writers, the Mont Blanc already achieved a certain fame at the end of the eighteenth century. Thus, a tourism made initially by nobles and aristocrats both in winter and in summer took its first steps. The possibility therefore to admire a mountain that changes its dress, playing with the shades of color of the different seasons. Enchanting landscapes that led to the development of the first accommodation facilities. Chamonix and Courmayeur were soon populated with classy hotels until when niche tourism became a mass phenomenon. Today it is possible to stay in structures of various types and prices. So it is for Courmayeur placed at the foot of the mountain on the Italian side, it preserves the typical atmosphere of the alpine village. In addition to the shops scattered through the streets of the center, you can admire green valleys but also glaciers and peaks.
Sports lovers can take advantage of the numerous ski routes calibrated to your experience. THE off the track on the Toula glacier, the descent of the Vallée Blanche and the Mer de Glace. If, on the other hand, you are novice skiers then it is better to opt for the itineraries of the Val Ferret . But there are also footpaths in the snow for those who simply want to enjoy the benefits of a walk. Not only sport but also cultural enrichment. It is indeed possible to visit the alpine museum among documents, period images and memorabilia. And if you want to complete your holiday with an unforgettable experience, then you should try it crossing of Mont Blanc. A route that will take you over 2 meters via the cable car, painting a spectacular scenery before your eyes. The alpine botanical garden where to learn about medicinal herbs, high altitude plants and an example of highland pasture as well as the crystal exhibition.
