ALTUS CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC VALLEY – SUMMER 2024
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Edito – Altus Chamonix Été 2024

A unique and majestic territory, the Mont-Blanc massif has always been a challenge for mankind.

Alpinists and climbers have performed feats and built legends here, establishing Chamonix as the capital of mountaineering and climbing.
capital of mountaineering and climbing. Every year, competitors from all over the world come to compete in the town center, perpetuating this tradition of sporting excellence (see p. 72), pushing back their own limits as well as those of the sport.

For it is in the face of otherness that creativity often blossoms. Faced with the greatest difficulties, human beings are capable of transcending themselves, of finding new solutions and innovating. The architects of the refuges scattered throughout the massif have proved this, defying altitude and extreme weather conditions to imagine surprising, self-sufficient buildings (see p 52).

Changing glaciers and climatic conditions constantly present new challenges. To measure the effects of climate change on high-altitude flora and fauna, Crea (Centre de recherche sur les écosystèmes d’altitude) set up a participatory program 20 years ago (see p. 80). It can now assess the impact of these phenomena on the region’s main activities, enabling them to adapt accordingly. The economic players in the Chamonix valley, like its inhabitants, are well aware of the fragility of our mountains.

Among the initiatives aimed at raising awareness of this priceless natural heritage, Perrine Bettin’s
stands out for its originality and poetry, as it aims to create an immersive culinary experience in the heart of the valley’s glaciers, lakes and forests (see p. 64).

A land of innovation and varied talents, Chamonix never ceases to surprise us, offering us season after season to fill our pages with exciting discoveries.

Roland Claude Durand-Terrasson
Publishing Director

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NEWS

Hybrid and eclectic, it’s culture… but not as you know it

This season, the Chamonix cultural service is offering a deliberately diverse programme that includes different forms of live performance, circus, contemporary music, comedy and more. Many shows promise to be original and disruptive – some even subversive – blurring genre boundaries.


ATELIER ALPENROSE, AN ARTIST’S
HOME BRIMMING WITH HISTORY

How would you like to sleep in the home and studio of the famous Alpine painter Marcel Wibault (1904-1998). This is the charming invitation issued by his granddaughter, Emma. An interior designer, she has used her respect and flair to breathe new life into the place, formerly a museum. Designed by the artist himself, the Chalet Alpenrose is now home to a most unusual guesthouse. The dark wood is the perfect foil for Wibault’s luminous Alpine landscapes, while on his large easel hangs the rucksack he took with him on his painting trips. Glacier-blue fabrics lighten the spacious suite of rooms, while a picture window frames the view of Mont Blanc. This characterful artist’s refuge promises guests a deliciously peaceful interlude.

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CLASSICAL MUSIC COMES TO CHAMONIX

The first ever Chamonix Vallée Classics Festival will take place in Chamonix from 30 July to 6 August 2024, with concerts in three symbolic venues: Saint Michel Church, the school of modern music and the Espace Michel Croz 2. The project is the brainchild of Bernard de Launoit and David Joseph, two friends and classical music lovers, joined by local volunteers. The event will welcome prestigious artists such as internationally-acclaimed tenor Ian Bostridge, Mishka Rushdie Momen, the Kleio Quartet, the Jerusalem Quartet, the Camerata du Mont Blanc and the Trio Bohémo. An outstanding launch event with five concerts to enjoy at the foot of Mont Blanc!

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RETREAT FOR CANCER PATIENTS
CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF SOLACE

Christine Janin, founder and director of Chamonix-based organisation “À chacun son Everest!” (“Everyone has their Everest”) is to carry the Olympic torch for Haute Savoie. A doctor, and the first French woman to climb Mount Everest, Janin had the idea for a form of therapy inspired by sport: “I invented my own kind of medicine, the medicine of the soul, with each step I took.” Over the past 30 years, she has welcomed many guests at Maison Vallot (home of “À chacun son Everest!”), inspiring in them the strength and courage to be their best. With a team of specialists, Christine has helped 4,963 children
and 2,300 women recovering from cancer to rediscover their appetite for life, offering a remarkable break to restore physical and mental wellbeing.

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Creators

Cécile Ballauri, céramiste inspirée par la montagne

Cécile Ballauri, who opened Atelier Bö in Servoz with her husband Simone, has made a marvellous career change. From high mountain guide to ceramist, she has combined her passions and discovered the mountains in a new light.

 

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Architecture

Refuges the architectural feats of the Alps

An inherent part of the history of the Mont Blanc mountains, refuges demonstrate the ability of architects to draw inspiration from the constraints of building at high altitude to create daring structures. We explore these emblematic places that bridge the gap between tradition and modernity.

 

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Gastronomy

Poetic Alpine Flavours

It’s a truly unique culinary and artistic experience. Not really a meal and yet more than a tasting, Perrine Bettin creates gourmet moments of poetic splendour to be enjoyed in the heart of nature.

 

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Sport

Chamonix kingdom of rock climbing

Chamonix will once again play host to one of the events in the annual Climbing World Cup series. The event, which will take place from 12-14 July 2024, symbolises the town’s significance in the history of climbing.

 

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Environnement

Crea Mont-Blanc, monitoring climate change in the field

Through its Phénoclim programme, launched 20 years ago, Crea Mont-Blanc – the Research Centre for Alpine Ecosystems – has brought participatory science into the domain of the general public to explore the effects of climate change in mountainous areas. The vast programme has enabled the collection of some 50,000 observations of the Alps, providing invaluable information that will guide planning and development in the area – both around Mont-Blanc and beyond.

 

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