30% Special Offer for Chamonix for December 2013

If you needed any more reason to go skiing before Christmas, then how about this discount offer for Chamonix?

From 14 to 21 December, the resort is offering a special 30% off deal on ski school and ski hire. 

And have you seen the snow?  This is looking like a vintage winter.  Grands Montets and Les Houches will be opening on 07 December with the rest of the resort fully open on the 14th, in time for this offer.

Special Offers - Save 30%

The 30% off discount applies to Ski School from the ESF, ski hire and parapenting - just use the code 2013cham30 when you book.

Lift passes are also at a discount - with the Premiere Neige offers at only €219 for six days compared to €282 usually. 

Stay with us in Vallorcine

Vallorcine is the perfect location for a quiet stay in the Chamonix valley, away from the crowds.  You can access the Le Tour/La Balme area quickly and are only a short 10min drive from Argentiere if you want to ski on the Grands Montets. 

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a charming gite bed and breakfast in Vallorcine in the Chamonix Valley. Rooms are available from €65pp.  

Call us now on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 to check availability.   

Article by Iain Martin

New Lifts in Chamonix

Compagnie de Mont Blanc have announced proposals for a new €477 million investment plan for lifts in the Chamonix valley. 

Under proposal at present are three new telecabines, two chairlift upgrades and two new beginner areas - all to be created over the next six years. 

CMB may invest $477m

The proposed schedule is outlined below:

2014: Plan Joran telecabin (Grands Montets ski area)

2015: Plan Praz beginner ski area (Brevent/Flegère)

2016: Parsa Chairlift (Brevent-Flegère)

2016: Argentiere beginner ski area

2017 Charamillon telecabin (Le Tour/La Balme)

2019: Tabé/Marmottons Chairlift  (Grands Montets)

2019: Improved access to the Flegère lift 

There is a meeting of the town council in two weeks' time when the proposal will be discussed and possibly confirmed.

Chamonix takes more revenue on its lifts than any other resort

This follows hot on the news that Chamonix is now the no.1 grossing resort for ski lift revenues in France.  This article is in French, but explains that CMB now has a turnover of over €70m.

Chamonix Lift Opening Dates Winter 2013

The season is bearing down on us, so it's time for a reminder of just when those lifts open.

When does Chamonix open for skiing?

Early snow has been encouraging and if it continues go well, we can expect a partial opening of Les Grands Montets and Les Houches from the 07 December 2013.

Brevent, Flegere and La Balme/Le Tour will open from 14 December, again subject to conditions. 

The full area is scheduled to open on 21 December 2013. 

When does Vallorcine open for skiing?

Vallorcine lifts will also open on 14 December and are scheduled to close on 13 April.  

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge will be open and while we already have limited availability for Christmas and New Year weeks, we do currently have space for the first week of the season. 

For details and to check availability, please call us on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or email to bellevuealpinelodge@gmail.com

Article by  Iain Martin

Gabriel Loppe Exhibition in Chamonix

At the Bellevue Alpine Lodge, sometimes we like to take a quiet day and visit one of the many cultural events in the Chamonix valley.

One of our current favourites is the ‘Gabriel Loppé –Artiste au Sommet’ exhibition taking place in Chamonix.

Centenary of the artist's death
The Valley has been paying tribute to Loppé, who lived from 1825 to 1913, to mark the for the centenary of his death.

In addition to his paintings, his career as a photographer and mountaineer is also examined.  Loppé was a talented photographer and some of his work was acquired by the Musée d’Orsay in Paris in 1989.

Open until 17 May 2014
The exhibition has been open since 26 June 2013 and will run until mid-May.  You can find it at the Maison de la Mémoire et du Patrimoine.

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge offers great value B&B and half-board accommodation in Vallorcine, just 20 minutes drive from Chamonix.

Article by  Iain Martin

Les Ecuries de Charamillon in Le Tour / Vallorcine comes highly recommended

At the Bellevue Alpine Lodge, we are often asked by our guests for advice on where to take lunch.

Les Ecuries de Charamillon is never far from the top of our list. 

This will be the second winter season for this fullyrenovated restaurant, located along the slopes of Le Tour-Vallorcine ski area.

There’s always a warm welcome, followed by the chance to enjoy local-sourced, quality cuisine prepared with fresh products.   

Photo fournie par TripAdvisor

The design is typically Savoyard, with rustic interiors, and on the terrace there’s an unrestricted view to the Mont-Blanc range and the Chamonix valley.

The chef’s specialities include ‘croûte aux fromages’ (made with cheeses from the Balme side of the mountain).  These are made even tastier with morilles or chanterelles – local mushrooms.

Chanterelle mushrooms

The restaurant is 200 meters away from the top of the Charamillon cable car and can be reached by skis or snowshoes.  Reservations can be made by calling +33 (0)4 50 54 17 07 

Article by  Iain Martin

The train comes back to Vallorcine

Great news from the Tourist Office is that after two years’ work on the railway, the train will be returning to Vallorcine.

The route from Chamonix to Chatelard (Switzerland) includes a complete renovation of the tunnel in Les Montets, and a SNCF train travelled between Chamonix and Argentière last summer.

This winter, the 'Mont Blanc Express' will be back on the rails and will take again passengers to and from Vallorcine to Chamonix and the border with Switzerland.

There is no charge for travel on the entire line between Servoz and Vallorcine as long as you can produce your guest card.

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a B&B and Gite in Vallorcine. Please contact us for more details. 

Article by  Iain Martin

New 'Step into the Void' view opens at the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix

This is definitely not one for anyone who suffers from heights or nerves...!

As if the height of a visit to the Aiguille du Midi (3842m) was not enough, from this winter it will now be possible to look directly downwards for over 1000m.

Installing the glass panels

Opens on 21 December 2013
The 'Step into the Void' feature will open on 21 December and will allow visitors to step into a glass box and look 1035m below them.

Each of the glass panels have been specially designed and are 12mm thick.  The structure will be able to withstand winds of up to 200 km/h.

Not for anyone who suffers from heights

Inspired by the Skywalk
The creation was inspired by the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon in the States.

This video explains more about the design and how the idea came about:



Accommodation in Vallorcine
The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is in Vallorcine, just 20 minutes from Chamonix and offers great value gite and B&B accommodation.

Please visit our website for details.

Article by  Iain Martin