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Monte Bianco Review
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Monte Bianco
- Address: Frazione La Palud 22, Courmayeur
- Phone: 0165/89925 Italian side; 00/33450536210 French side
- www.montebianco.com
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Mont Blanc
- Category: Mountains
- Location: Courmayeur/Monte Bianco
Fodor's Review:
From La Palud, a small town 4 km (2½ mi) north of Courmayeur, you can catch the cable car up to the top of Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc). In summer, if you get the inclination, you can then switch cable cars and descend into Chamonix, in France. In winter you can ski parts of the route off-piste. The Funivie La Palud whisks you up first to the Pavillon du Mont Fréty—a starting point for many beautiful hikes—and then to the Rifugio di Torino, before arriving at the viewing platform at Punta Helbronner (more than 11,000 feet), which is also the border post with France. Monte Bianco's attraction is not so much its shape (much less distinctive than that of the Matterhorn) as its expanse and the vistas from the top.
The next stage up—only in summer—is on the Télépherique de L'Aiguille du Midi, as you pass into French territory. The trip is particularly impressive: you dangle over a huge glacial snowfield (more than 2,000 feet below) and make your way slowly to the viewing station above Chamonix. It's one of the most dramatic rides in Europe. From this point you're looking down into France, and if you change cable cars at the Aiguille du Midi station you can make your way down to Chamonix itself. The return trip covers the same route. Schedules are unpredictable, depending on weather conditions and demand; contact the Courmayeur tourist office (0165/842060. www.courmayeur.net) for more information.
- Cost: EUR 13 round-trip to Pavillon du Mont Fréty, EUR 32 round-trip to Helbronner, EUR 48 round-trip to Aiguille du Midi, EUR 75 round-trip to Chamonix
- Open: Call for hrs. Closed mid-Oct.-mid-Dec., depending on demand and weather
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