Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, between the Mont Blanc massif and the Aiguilles Rouges

Renowned resort in Savoie, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc remains a true mountain village at 1035 meters altitude. An hour from Geneva airport, it has kept its old-world charm, always evoking the time when the first pioneers began to storm this mythical mountain and its sea of ice in the White Valley. Very international, Chamonix has everything for an idyllic stay: a pedestrian center, shops among the most prestigious brands, starred tables, a thermal spa, a casino, a jazz club and regular music events throughout the year.

Weather

Webcam

Living in the Chamonix valley

Between the Mont Blanc massif and the Aiguilles Rouges, the Chamonix valley stretches from Servoz to Vallorcine and the Swiss border. The centre of Chamonix stands at around 1,035 metres above sea level, at the foot of Mont Blanc, which rises above 4,800 metres. Between the two massifs, four communes share the same services and the same railway line.

An alpine identity

Chamonix owes its fame to the first ascent of Mont Blanc, made from the village on 8 August 1786 by Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard, so much so that the commune took the name Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in 1921. Three years later, it hosted the first Winter Olympic Games. Today it has 8,705 residents according to INSEE, and the wider area just under 14,000.

Activities through the year

In winter, the four ski areas (Brévent-Flégère, Grands Montets, Balme and Les Houches) are all served by the Skibus shuttles. The Grands Montets are being rebuilt, with a new Argentière-Lognan gondola due in December 2026. Cross-country skiers head for Les Bois and Le Bouchet, among other spots.

The rest of the year, 520 kilometres of waymarked trails cross the valley, and the Montenvers railway climbs in twenty minutes to the edge of the Mer de Glace. Every commune in the area lies within the Reblochon PDO zone, and the Saturday morning market fills Place du Mont-Blanc.

Heritage and culture

The church of Saint-Michel, rebuilt between 1707 and 1709, the Hôtel du Montenvers, opened in 1840 facing the Mer de Glace, and the QC Terme spa, with its thermal baths and outdoor pool on Promenade du Fori, are among the places that define Chamonix. The town is also home to the École nationale de ski et d’alpinisme, the national school that trains France’s mountain guides and ski instructors.

If the valley holds on to its residents through high mountains and history, it will win you over just as much with its ski areas and its Saturday market. To take your property plans further, our estate agency in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is here to help, and you can already browse the prime properties currently for sale across the Chamonix valley.

See all properties for sale

Settling in the Chamonix valley

Settling in the Chamonix valley means living at the foot of Mont Blanc, 88 kilometres from Geneva airport, with a train serving every commune and a tunnel to Italy.

Getting there and getting around

The Mont-Blanc Express, regional line TER 44, runs from Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet to Martigny in Switzerland, calling at Servoz, Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine. Between Servoz and Vallorcine, travel is free on presentation of the guest card or the ViaCham card. The Chamonix Mobilité buses cover the same route, and the Mont Blanc Tunnel reaches Courmayeur in around twelve minutes.

Mainline trains, including seasonal TGVs, stop at Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet, however, where you can also join the Léman Express. From Geneva Cornavin station, allow 2 hours 40 by train, although the airport is only 88 kilometres away by road.

The A40, known as the Autoroute Blanche, leads to the entrance of the valley, where winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory from 1 November to 31 March.

Schools

Chamonix has four state primary schools, spread between the centre and the hamlets, and each of the three other communes has its own. The Frison-Roche school campus combines a secondary school and a sixth form, with European English sections, a sports section and a ski and mountaineering course leading to careers in the mountains.

Health and services

Chamonix hospital, on Route des Pèlerins, specialises in mountain trauma, but its urgent care centre only opens in the peak seasons, winter and summer. The rest of the year, Sallanches hospital takes over, with an A&E department open round the clock and a maternity unit. The Richard-Bozon sports centre combines a swimming pool and an ice rink.

Living in the Chamonix valley, the communes of the area

Choosing to live in the Chamonix valley means choosing between four communes and several villages with very different rhythms, from the lively centre of Chamonix to the high hamlets, all linked by the same train. Population figures come from the latest census.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

Starting point of the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which climbs to 3,842 metres, Chamonix also brings together the school campus, the hospital, the sports centre and the main railway station of the area. The new Musée du Mont-Blanc opened here in July 2026. The commune also includes hamlets such as Les Praz, Les Bois and Les Pèlerins. Discover our prime properties for sale in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.

Argentière

At around 1,250 metres, the village of Argentière sits at the foot of the Aiguille Verte and its glacier, at the base of the Grands Montets ski area. Part of the commune of Chamonix, it has its own school, railway station and Sunday market in season, while the hamlet of Le Tour, higher up, opens onto the Balme ski area. Discover our homes for sale in Argentière.

Les Houches

Les Houches has 3,515 residents, at around 1,000 metres. Its Verte des Houches piste hosts the Alpine Ski World Cup, the 25-metre Christ-Roi statue has watched over the village since the 1930s, and the Parc de Merlet shows mountain wildlife against a Mont Blanc backdrop. Discover our luxury real estate in Les Houches.

Servoz

The first station of the area coming from Saint-Gervais, the commune has 1,169 residents at 815 metres. The Diosaz gorges have been open to visitors since 1875, the Maison du Lieutenant is said to be the oldest house in the valley, and the Bouchet school takes children from nursery to the end of primary. Discover our high-end homes available to buy in Servoz.

Vallorcine

The last village before Switzerland, beyond the Col des Montets, the commune has 453 residents at 1,250 metres. Its raccards and the Barberine house recall its Valais roots. The railway station marks the end of the French SNCF network, and since 2004 a gondola has linked it to the Balme ski area. Discover our properties on the market in Vallorcine.

See all properties for sale