Le Brévent

Le Brévent is the summit on the northern side of the Chamonix valley, at 2,525 metres, and it offers a view that many people consider the best in the area: a direct, face-on panorama of the whole Mont Blanc massif across the valley. From here you see Mont Blanc itself, the Aiguille du Midi, the Mer de Glace basin and the long line of glaciers and needle-shaped peaks that make up the range, all lit by the sun for much of the day because the Brévent faces south. The Aiguille du Midi is a place to stand on a peak among the ice, while the Brévent is a place to see the whole of the massif at once.

The cable car leaves from the edge of Chamonix, at about 1,000 metres, in two stages. The first section rises to Planpraz, at about 2,000 metres, where there is a restaurant and a starting point for walks, and the second continues to the summit. The lifts run frequently during the season, but the schedule depends on the time of year and the weather, so check it on the day, and note that the last descent is in the late afternoon. Tickets are sold for the single section or for the full route, with reductions for children and families, and prices vary by season.

At the top there is a viewing terrace and a panoramic restaurant, and the summit is a base for walking and for paragliding, since the steep slope below is a popular place to launch. Among the hikes, the trail to Lac Cornu, a small mountain lake in the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve behind the peak, is a favourite. The Grand Balcon Sud, a high path that runs along the slope with views of the glaciers across the valley, links Planpraz with other lifts and can be walked in sections. Summer is the main season, but the area is also part of a ski domain in winter.

The altitude brings cold and wind even in warm weather, so bring warm clothes, sunglasses and sunscreen, and sturdy shoes if you intend to walk. Weather can close the lift at short notice. Morning visits usually offer the clearest views, before clouds build up in the afternoon.

Le Brévent suits walkers, families, photographers and those who want a high viewpoint without the queues and the cold of the Aiguille du Midi. The Musée Alpin, the Mer de Glace and the Montenvers railway, Les Houches and the Chamonix market complete a day in the valley.