1. Chamonix France Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhone-Alpes region in in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics the first Winter Olympics. The commune's population of around 9,800 ranks 865th within the nation of France. Situated near the massive peaks of the Aiguilles Rouge, Chamonix shares both the summit of Mont Blanc and the title of highest commune in France with its neighboring commune, Saint Gervais-les-Bains. The commune is well known and loved by skiers and by mountain enthusiasts of all types. Mont Blanc, at a height of 4,810 metres, is the third most visited natural site in the world. This lends the area a notably cosmopolitan atmosphere. With an area of 245 square kilometres, Chamonix is the fourth largest commune in mainland France. From the late 19th century on, tourist development was dominated by national and international initiatives rather than local entrepreneurs, though the local community was increasingly dependent upon and active in the tourist industry. Chamonix is famous for its spectacular cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi (3842 m). Constructed in 1955, it was then the highest cable car in the world. Together with a cable car system going up to the Pointe Holbronner (3462 m) from Entreves in the Aosta Valley (Italy) it is possible to cross the entire Mont Blanc massif by cable car. Apart from high-mountain summer sports, Chamonix is also a destination for the hardcore mountain biker.
