From the centre of Chamonix, you look up and see the Brévent. It rises directly above the town, facing Mont-Blanc, and is often the first place to catch the light when the valley is still in shade. It feels close enough to walk to, yet high enough to change the day.

Getting There

The access is simple. From the Savoy draglift beside La Folie Douce, you can ride up directly to the base of the gondola, or walk a few minutes up the steep little road behind the church. Several local buses also stop at Planpraz. In five minutes you are already at the gateway to the high mountains.

At the base of the gondola there are lockers, toilets, and a small rental shop. The ticket desks are busy during holidays, so it is worth buying your pass online and collecting it from the automatic machines at the entrance.

At the base of the Planpraz gondola

The area is often lively in the morning, with the sound of boots on tarmac and people getting ready for their first run.

Arriving at Planpraz

When you arrive at Planpraz, the scene opens wide. The Mont-Blanc range fills the horizon in front of you, a view so vast it seems to suspend time. There are two small cafés and a restaurant terrace where many stop for a morning drink. From here, everything begins. The funicular leads to the beginner zone, the cable car rises to the summit, and the blue runs start right from this point, winding gently through the upper slopes. Paragliders take off from the edge of the plateau, floating above Chamonix in slow spirals.

The beginner area at Planpraz

The Beginner Area

The beginner area sits above the funicular. It is a calm plateau followed by a mild descent that rises again at the end, helping new skiers stop naturally. A short button lift gives access to two wide green runs. In the middle stands a small restaurant, convenient for a break or a coffee in the sun. The area is compact, easy to navigate, and ideal for a first experience on snow.

Blue Runs and Flow

For those already comfortable on skis, the Brévent offers long and varied blue runs. The Combe des Vioz is among the widest pistes in Chamonix, flowing in soft curves with gentle changes of slope. It is a favourite of many, popular enough to be busy at times, but always beautiful to ski.

Red Runs and Challenge

Higher up, the Cornu chairlift serves the red runs. The Cornu itself is broad and steady, a good challenge for intermediate skiers, while the Charlanon, dropping towards the link with La Flégère, is steeper and more demanding. Chamonix's red slopes are rarely easy; they often match the difficulty of black runs elsewhere. Between the Cornu and the cable car station you also find several enjoyable blue pistes reached by the Charlanon chairlift.

View from the base of Charlanon chairlift, near the link to La Flégère

The Summit Cable Car

Let's go back to where we started, at the top of the Planpraz gondola. From here, the large cable car rises to the summit. The Brévent was home to one of the first cable cars in the world, built in 1928, when skiing was still a curiosity and people rode up mainly to admire the view. That early spirit has never left.

At the top, a large terrace overlooks the valley and the entire Mont-Blanc range. It feels like standing on a balcony above Chamonix. From here begins one of Chamonix's most impressive black runs, cutting through cliffs and narrow couloirs, reserved for confident skiers. Others simply stay to enjoy the view and the sunlight.

The First Light

The Brévent faces south, so it receives the first light of the day. Even in the middle of winter, when the town is frozen and quiet, you reach the sun around half past nine. The warmth feels immediate, gentle on the face, and turns the morning into something bright and calm.

View from Charles Bozon black run at the top of Brévent

As the afternoon comes, paragliders cross the air, the slopes empty slowly, and the light softens over the peaks. Some take the link to La Flégère, others return to the valley, but many stay a little longer for a final drink before descending.

Chamonix in Miniature

The Brévent is Chamonix in miniature. It welcomes everyone, from beginners to experts, from walkers to paragliders. It is close, open, and full of contrasts. The first mountain to meet the sun, and often the one that people remember most when they think of skiing above Chamonix.