The “Pearl of the Alps”: Courmayeur deserves this name due to the extraordinary beauty of its surrounding countryside, the harmony of its architecture and mountains, and its long tradition of hospitality. It’s not just by chance that it’s the most famous and oldest Italian Alpine station, overlooked by the majestic scenery of the Mont Blanc mountain range.
Courmayeur is full of history, tradition and ancient village pride. Its picturesque unspoilt village centre still retains the original urban and architectural layout; via Roma is one of the most famous pedestrian streets in the entire Alpine area.
The Mont Blanc Skyway cable car, that covers 2 spectacular sections, leading up to Punta Helbronner at 3466 m.a.s.l., and that – in summer – links, with 3 more sections, Courmayeur to Chamonix, almost reaching 4000 metres, is called the eighth wonder of the world
(www.montebianco.com).
Val Veny and Val Ferret, at the foot of Mont Blanc, are among the most beautiful mountain valleys in the world that can be reached by transport. In summer, a nine-hole golf course is open in Val Ferret, the highest and most spectacular in Europe.
In winter, the Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie ski resort, a natural balcony with an exceptional view of Mont Blanc, offers over 100 km of slopes. There is always snow, and the orientation of the slopes guarantees its quality, even in spring. Snowmaking machines, covering almost all of the resort, provide excellent snow coverage on all slopes until the end of the season.
However, it’s total paradise for freeriding enthusiasts, who can take advantage of fabulous off-piste routes for all abilities, with all exposures and steep slopes, on glaciers, in open channels or slopes, and in woods.
Courmayeur and nearby Chamonix, linked by the 11.6 km long Mont Blanc Tunnel (www.tunnelmb.net), are the birthplaces and world capitals of alpinism. The historical association, the Guide di Courmayeur (www.guidecourmayeur.com) was founded in 1850.
(www.courmayeurmontblanc.it, www.lovevda.it)
