The French Alps - France 2014 - page 1243

Galerie Mario Colonel
Chamonix's most celebrated nature photographer displays his mesmerizing photographs
of the scenery high above you. These are so good you may not miss seeing the real thing.
Cost and Hours: Free, daily 9:00-12:30 & 15:00-19:00, a block from the train sta-
tion at 19 Rue Whymper, tel. [phone], www.mario-colonel.com .
Day Trips near Chamonix
A Day in French-Speaking Switzerland
PlentyoftemptingalpineandculturalthrillsawaitjustanhourortwoawayinSwitzerland.
A scenic road-and-train line sneaks you from Chamonix to the Swiss town of Martigny.
Whereas train travelers cross without formalities, drivers are charged a one-time fee of 40
Swissfrancs(about€35)forapermittouseSwissautobahns(validforonecalendaryear).
A Little Italy
The remote Valle d'Aosta and its historic capital city of Aosta offer a serious change of
culture. Though you won't be able to take the lift over the Alps into bella Italia (because
of construction at the Helbronner station), you can take the bus from Chamonix to Aosta
(about €17 one-way, €28 round-trip, reservation required in summer, 4/day July-mid-Sept,
2/day mid-Sept-June, 2-3hours).Get schedules at Chamonix'sbusstation (located at train
station,tel.[phone], www.sat-montblanc.com —click“downloadtimetables”onthe
right). For buses using the Mont Blanc tunnel, it's a two-hour trip to Aosta (otherwise it's
at least three hours via Martigny). Drivers can travel straight through the Mont Blanc tun-
nel (one-way-€42, round-trip-€52 with return valid for 1 week, www.tunnelmb.com ).
Sleeping in Chamonix
(€1 = about $1.30, country code: 33)
Reasonable hotels and dorm-like chalets abound in Chamonix, with easy parking and
quick access from the train station. The TI can help you find budget accommodations
anytime—eitherinpersonorbyemail( [e-mail] ) .Outsidewinter,mid-
July to mid-August is most difficult, when some hotels have five-day minimum-stay re-
quirements. Unless otherwise noted, very few hotels offer air-conditioning but most have
elevators. Prices tumble off-season (outside July-Aug and Dec-Jan). Many hotels and res-
taurants are closed in April, June, and November,but youcan still find a room and a meal.
IfyouwantaviewofMontBlanc,askfor côtéMontBlanc (coat-aymohnblah).Travelers
whovisitJunethroughSeptembershouldcontemplateanighthighaboveinarefuge-hotel.