The French Alps - France 2014 - page 1211

Chamonix: A Quick History
1091 Chamonix is first mentioned in local documents.
1786 Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard are the first to climb Mont Blanc (find the statue
in Chamonix's pedestrian zone).
1818 First ascent of Aiguille du Midi.
1860 The Savoie region (including Chamonix) becomes part of France. After a visit by Napoleon
III, the trickle of nature-loving visitors to Chamonix turns to a gush.
1901 Train service reaches Chamonix, unleashing its tourist appeal forever.
1908 The cogwheel train to Montenvers is completed.
1924 First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix.
1930 Le Brévent téléphérique (gondola lift) opens to tourists.
1955 Aiguille du Midi téléphérique opens to tourists.
1965 The Mont Blanc tunnel is built.
2014 You visit Chamonix.
Pull up a beachy sling chair outside the TI and plan your hike, or check your email
using their 24-hour Wi-Fi (free access outside, plus small cubicles inside to hole up in).
Arrival in Chamonix
By Train: Walk straight out of the station (no baggage check or WCs available) and up
Avenue Michel Croz (see the map on here ) . In three blocks, you'll reach the town center;
turn left at the big clock, then right for the TI.
By Bus: The long-distance bus station is at the train station.
By Car: For many of my recommended hotels and the TI, take the Chamonix Nord
turnoff—coming from Annecy and Geneva, it's the second exit after you pass under the
Aiguille du Midi cable car—and follow signs to Centre-Ville. Take the exit before the
Aiguille du Midi lift station for hotels south of the TI. Most parking is metered and well-
signed; your hotel can direct you to free parking. From mid-July to late August, traffic is a
mess in Chamonix, and finding parking is a challenge—plan ahead or arrive before 10:00
to get a spot.
TheMontBlanctunnel(7.2mileslong,abouta12-minutedrive)allowsquickaccess
between Chamonix and Italy (one-way-€42, round-trip-€52 with return valid for 1 week,
about €400 if you're driving a truck, www.tunnelmb.com ).