A mountain of Mont Blanc in the Alps, near Chamonix, Aiguille du Midi has a height of 3,842 meters. The name means needle in the south and offers a magnificent and breathtaking view.
No need to climb to get there
The Aiguille du Midi is particularly known for the cable car. It took 40 years to construct it and the work was completed in 1955. It possessed the record of the highest cable car in the world for two decades. The cable car is divided into two sections, the Chamonix that is at 1,035 meters to the Plan de l’Aiguille at 2,317 meters and from there straight to the top without any other pillar of support to 3,777 meters. The rising to 2,800 meters is done within 20 minutes.
When you reach the top you do have some questions
How exactly was the panoramic platform built on top of the highest mountain in Europe? How workers sculpted the rock to make tunnels and a lift, but also build bridges between the peaks? Needless to say that the answer was not an easy one even for the workers involved in this task. The difficulty of the project was extremely challenging, considering the simplest fact there is. In this rocky, rugged mountains that are among the highest in Europe, the cable had to be connected at a distance of 3 km and that took seven days. Indeed, it is no surprise that four workers lost their lives during work.
There is more than enjoying the view from high above
If you are lucky and the sky is clear you can actually see three countries! France, Italy and Switzerland are there for you to see them. The top of Aiguille du Midi includes a panoramic platform, a cafeteria and a gift shop. From that point, in which during the summer months there is another cable car called télécabine Panoramic Mont-Blanc Vallée Blanche takes guests to Pointe Helbronner, another Italian Alpine top. Since 21 December 2013, the most fearless take a leap of faith in a glass plant nearly 1,000 feet above the ground. A product of modern architecture and technical competence for a unique experience.
Organizing your visit
- Bring warm clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- The tour is not recommended for children under 3 years.
- Duration of visit: including travel, your stay lasts an average of 2-3 hours.
- Timetables and frequency of departure vary depending on the time of year and demand.
- The ticket for adults is 46 euro return and another 3 euros for the top.
Aiguille du Midi photos by: pilar azania talan, katarina stefanovic, calvin lee, ellen
