A brief history of the Mont-Blanc massifCulture, history and heritage
The high peaks of the massif and the dismantling of the relief into needles, points and rocky shields dominated by granite are characteristic of Mont Blanc, which also contains mineral resources such as quartz crystals and fluorites. Although the reasons for protecting the site are no longer disputed, they were not obvious at the time. In June 1951, then in January 1952, a classification decree was issued, protecting the entire area above the two-thousand-metre altitude limit, i.e. 20,000 hectares of peaks, glaciers and public land. In 1976, the glacial moraine zones of Chamonix and Les Houches were added, for their scenic and ecological interest: the fragility of the Argentière, Mer de Glace, Bossons and Taconnaz glacier tongues and their forest setting became increasingly apparent.
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The Mont Blanc Massif must-seesMythical summits and must-sees
The Mont-Blanc massif is an exceptional environment for mountain sports and outdoor activities. Offering landscapes as spectacular as they are diverse, visitors to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc can indulge in a multitude of activities (hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, via ferrata, yoga, canirandonnée, skiing, snowshoeing….) in the midst of summer pastures, against a backdrop of the glaciers of the Mont-Blanc massif’s iconic peaks, such as the Aiguille de Bionnassay and the Domes de Miage! Today, when it comes to mountaineering in the massif, the route most frequently used by climbers wishing to ascend the roof of Europeis the “Voie Royale”, located in the commune of Saint-Gervais. It takes you to the Nid d’Aigle (sometimes using the Mont-Blanc tramway), Tête Rousse, the Goûter couloir, the Dôme du Goûter, the Vallot shelter and the Bosses ridge to reach the summit. The couloir du Goûter, frequently exposed to rockfalls, is one of the trickiest parts of this ascent.
Mountain flora and faunaFantastic Alpine biodiversity
As well as being a prime location for hiking and other mountain sports, the Mont-Blanc massif is a natural area of incredible beauty, home to numerous animal and plant species specifically adapted to the massif’s alpine environment. In terms of fauna, we find the group of large alpine animals, represented in particular by chamois and ibex, veritable acrobats of the peaks, inhabitants of the steep ledges and vertiginous slopes of Mont-Blanc and the surrounding mountains. The small mountain fauna is not to be outdone, with the inimitable marmot and the no less iconic mountain hare (also known as blanchot because of its snow-white fur during the long winter months). Last but not least, there are the large birds of prey, such as the Golden Eagle and the Bearded Vulture, and the small mountain birds, proudly represented by the Black Grouse and the Alpine Ptarmigan (the snow partridge, which also turns white in winter). In short, Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc boasts incredible biodiversity.
