Montenvers & Mer de Glace

Where it is & how to get there

• Train: The Montenvers rack railway leaves from its own station behind Chamonix SNCF station, about 20 minutes to the top.
• Hiking: The Grand Balcon Nord trail links Plan de l'Aiguille to Montenvers in about 2–3 hours.
• Ticket: The train ticket includes the gondola and the ice cave in season.

The story of the Mer de Glace

In 1741 two Englishmen, William Windham and Richard Pococke, walked up to see the glacier and made it famous across Europe. Visitors came on mules until the rack railway opened in 1908, climbing to the Montenvers station at 1,913 metres.

The Mer de Glace, the "Sea of Ice", is the largest glacier in France, about 7 km long. It has been shrinking fast with climate change: signs on the stairs down to the ice cave show where the glacier surface was in past decades, a powerful sight.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• There are many steps down to the ice cave. Allow time and go at your own pace.
• Reaching the ice cave involves many stairs down and back up: allow time and energy.
• Visit the Glaciorium exhibition at Montenvers to understand the glacier's retreat.

What's around the Mer de Glace

• The DrusA spectacular granite spire facing the Montenvers terrace.
• Grand Balcon NordPanoramic trail towards the Aiguille du Midi mid-station.
• GlacioriumAn exhibition about glaciers and climate.
• Chamonix centreBack down by train in 20 minutes.

Questions travellers ask