Chamonix In France, A Real Multi-purpose Resort

By Author: Boštjan Hozjan
Total Articles: 3764
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The main attraction in Chamonix - Mont Blanc is of course the Alps, which allow the resort to offer 71 exhilarating ski trails. The most popular skiing and snowboarding areas are found in Vallee-Blanche, Grands Montets, and Le Brevent. With 20 red runs and 13 black runs to ski on, event the best skiers will find interesting challenges to face. Beginners will find nice ski trails in one of the three smaller ski areas of the resort, to get the basics right. As for confirmed adventurers, Chamonix France also offers opportunities for off-trail skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, sleigh riding, and other fun winter activities for those in need, or not, of an adrenalin rush.

Chamonix France is not just a skiing paradise. It is an attractive mountain town where, thanks to a robust tourism business, one can find the genuine charm of a traditional French village in a very sophisticated way. Because of its central location, it has attracted travelers from all over the world. Because it is easily accessible from Italy or Switzerland, it is easy for travelers to make a stopover. And Chamonix has things to offer even to the ski not-enthusiasts ...
... among us. For example, a aficionado of ales, pilsners and other beers will be impressed by the collection of MBC, a microbrewery. Photographers will love the ride in the red cog-wheel train that allows them to take pictures of the magnificent Sea of Ice, which is also known as the Mer de Glace glacier. History geeks will be happy to spend hours in the Alpine Museum, where they will make great discoveries. Did you know that some ski areas in Chamonix boast more than two centuries of existence?

Another popular activity in Chamonix is a very demanding one: apres-ski (literally after-ski). After a full and exhausting day on the slopes, locals and tourist meet, talk and party with their peers in different restaurants, bars, and cafe. If you are the laid-back type, and you want a casual dinner and internet access, then the Cybar is for you. If you like Italian food, then you will meet your match in the charming Le Stone Bar. If you want to live the French experience all the way, you can try the Chalet le Cerro, with its traditional menu. And there is even a casino in Chamonix, if gambling is your thing. And with a choice of more than 60 hotels that can accommodate you in Chamonix after a long day skiing and a long night apres-skiing, there is no reason to go back home right away.

Cheese is one of the major features of the French traditional Savoyarde food, and it is certainly not to disregard. Traditionally, Frenchmen and women who lived in the region, at almost 8 300m above the sea level needed a highly caloric diet indeed, and cheese was an obvious choice. One typical dish, the "tartiflette" is composed of potatoes, lard and Reblochon, a soft cheese from the region. Tomme, goat cheese and sheep cheese are only a few examples of the fine variety of cheeses offered in many dining places. Pizzas, pasta and sausages are also regional classics.

If you want luxury ski vacations, Chamonix might be just the place for you. All four-star Chamonix hotels, such as the Auberge de Bois Prin, offer luxurious accommodations and amenities, and the three-star hotels, such as the Hermitage, are mostly found within the center of Chamonix. Holiday residences are also legion in the resort and they offer 3 or 4 stars apartments for couples and families or groups up to 12 persons. Residences have the advantage to provide space and allow autonomy, and the services found in a hotel are usually also available. And the rest of Chamonix hotels are chalets and houses that have been renovated and modernized to meet the needs of the growing tourism industry. During winter, many Chamonix hotels offer vacation deals and discounts but vacationers need to plan ahead. The busiest periods, Christmas and New Years and the French school vacations are fully booked way before they begin.