Page 202 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

d’Arly, Mont Blanc and at the foot of Western
Beaufortain. Europe’s highest peak,
For spirit-soaring the bone-white dome of
mountain views with Mont Blanc (4810m).
zero effort, board the Climbers with the
Tramway du Mont Blanc necessary skill, experience
Jean Jaurès, courtyard of Centre (%04 50 53 22 75; www.com and stamina flock here for
Bonlieu; h9am-12.30pm & 1.45- pagniedumontblanc.co.uk; rue the incomparable Mont
6pm Mon-Sat year-round, plus de la Gare; return to Bellevue/ Blanc ascent. If you’re
9am-12.30pm & 1.45-6pm Sun Nid d’Aigle €31/36; h5 depar- not quite ready to scale
mid-May–mid-Sep, 9am-12.30pm tures daily mid-Dec–early Apr, ‘the big one’, consider cir-
Sun Apr–early Oct & Dec).
8 daily early-Jun to early Jul & cumnavigating it on the
54 p205 late Aug to mid-Sep), France’s classic six- to 10-day Tour
highest train. Since 1913 du Mont Blanc, which
The Drive » This 70km it has been labouring up takes in majestic glaciers
drive starts with a pretty to Bellevue (1800m) in and peaks in France, Italy
southeastwards run along
Annecy’s lakefront, passing winter and Mont Lachat and Switzerland; local
through the wildlife-rich (2113m) in summer. outfitters organise excur-
wetlands of Bout du Lac on Train buffs will also sions including half-board
the lake’s southern tip before love the narrow-gauge in refuges (mountain
continuing east on the D1508, Mont Blanc Express huts), lift tickets and
then northeast on the D1212 (www.mont-blanc-express. luggage transport. Other
and D909 into St-Gervais.
com), which trundles peak experiences include
along a century-old rail Chamonix’ dozens of
line from St-Gervais-Le- day hikes, the unforget-
2 St-Gervais-les- Fayet station to Martigny table cable-car ascent to
Bains in Switzerland. Aiguille du Midi and the
ALPS, JURA & RHÔNE VALLEY 17 ALPINE ADvENTuRE
Basking in the shadow of 4 p205 train ride (www.compagnie
Mont Blanc, St-Gervais- dumontblanc.fr; 35 place de la
les-Bains is a peaceful The Drive » The 24km route Mer de Glace; adult/child return
Savoyard village, centred to Chamonix follows the D902, €31/26.40; h10am-4.30pm)
on a Baroque church and N205 and D243 into the heart to France’s largest glacier,
old-fashioned carousel. of the Alps. the glistening 200m-deep
Panoramic hiking Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice).
trails in the Bettex, TRIP HIGHLIGHT Chamonix has an
Mont d’Arbois and Mont 3 Chamonix unparalleled menu of
Joly areas head off from adrenaline sports includ-
town. Some of the best An outdoors playground ing rafting, canyoning,
mountain-biking terrain of epic proportions, mountain biking and
is marked between Val Chamonix sits directly paragliding down from
the heights of Planpraz
(2000m) or Aiguille du
Midi (3842m). For details,
TOP TIP: visit the tourist office
WINTER DRIVING (%04 50 53 00 24; www.
chamonix.com; 85 place du
Parts of this route (notably the northern stretches Triangle de l’Amitié; h8.30am-
around Annecy and Chamonix) are accessible to 7pm winter & summer, 9am-
drivers in winter, but the high mountain passes 12.30pm & 2-6pm low season).
further south are strictly off-limits outside summer.
54 p205

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