Mont Blanc means 4,805 metres and glaciers as far as the eye can see, but you still need to find the right angle to take it all in. Certain villages in the Alps offer exceptional panoramas over the massif and its perpetual snows: whether at dawn from a hamlet terrace or partway through a hike, the view can be breathtaking. Here’s our selection of the finest viewpoints, from the Beaufortain to the Chamonix valley.
Also worth reading: the map of every spot to see Mont Blanc in the Alps
Cordon, the Balcony of Mont Blanc
Rightly nicknamed “the balcony of Mont Blanc”, this charming village has preserved its traditional architecture and centuries-old alpine farms. Set on a sun-drenched hillside, Cordon offers one of the most complete and unobstructed panoramas of the range, from the summit of the Aiguille Verte all the way to the Aiguille du Goûter. It’s a wonderful spot to watch the pink hues of sunset settle over the eternal snows. The village is the starting point for numerous family-friendly hikes, notably towards the Aravis. For an authentic stay, you’ll find beautiful guesthouses and charming hotels here, such as Le Chamois d’Or, which offers warm Savoyard hospitality facing the ice giant.
Combloux, the Jewel of the Mont-Blanc Country
Facing Mont Blanc, the Aiguille du Midi and the Vanoise massif, Combloux is a village resort blessed with an exceptional aspect. With nothing blocking the view, the panorama is breathtaking and unobstructed, whether you’re out on the ski slopes or beside its famous natural swimming lake — the first of its kind in France — where you can bathe with the glaciers as a backdrop. The village has kept its character, with baroque churches and themed trails exploring its granite heritage. In terms of accommodation, Combloux offers a varied range, from modern holiday residences to luxury hotels such as the Hôtel Alpen Valley, whose wide picture windows mean you never have to take your eyes off the roof of Europe.
Hauteluce, Mont Blanc in Perspective
In the heart of the Beaufortain, this beautiful, authentic village offers a discreet but stunning view of the Mont-Blanc massif, which rises majestically behind the Col du Joly. Hauteluce is a well-preserved village just a stone’s throw from Les Saisies and its many activities. There are plenty of hiking trails here for all levels. In the heart of the village, the Résidence Les Chalets du Mont Blanc gives access to a lovely swimming pool and offers a fine view over the village and the glaciers.
Saint-Nicolas de Véroce, Facing Mont Blanc and the Aiguille de Bionnassay
Perched above Saint-Gervais, Saint-Nicolas de Véroce is a chic, authentic village that sits literally face-to-face with the Mont-Blanc massif. A keen eye will spot the Dôme du Goûter and its refuge, the Dôme de Miage, as well as the Aiguille de Bionnassay and its glacier. To catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc itself, you’ll need to climb around 250 metres above the village. At the heart of the village, the baroque church of Saint-Nicolas is a well-known local landmark. While you’ll find rentals and chalets here, the 5-star Hôtel de l’Armancette is the standout local address. Alongside its beautiful chalet-style rooms, the hotel also boasts a fine wellness area, a gourmet restaurant and a bakery.
Plateau d’Assy, South-Facing and Looking Straight at Mont Blanc
A land of sanatoriums and art, the Plateau d’Assy has no picture-postcard village to speak of. Instead, you’ll find pretty chalets, former sanatoriums — modern-day reminders of the era when tuberculosis was treated at altitude — and a striking 20th-century church adorned with works by Bonnard, Braque, Léger, Matisse and Stravinsky, among others… At 1,000m altitude and facing due south, the Plateau d’Assy is a fantastic base camp for hiking enthusiasts, serving as a starting point for exploring the Fiz range and the plateau itself. Above all, this is one of the finest vantage points facing the Mont-Blanc massif. From here, you can take in the whole range, from the Aiguille du Midi to the Dôme de Miage, taking in the roof of Europe along the way. Here, it’s worth favouring stays with local hosts, through Gîtes de France, Airbnb or Vrbo, for instance.
Les Contamines, at the Foot of the Dôme de Miage
Les Contamines is a lovely, lively village resort located between Saint-Gervais and the Col du Joly. At the foot of the Dôme de Miage, the resort is dominated by its impressive glacier. Here you’ll find a beautiful church and an active village centre. As you climb higher, the view over the Mont-Blanc massif opens up more and more. In Les Contamines, you’ll find some fine residences, good hotels and plenty of privately owned rentals. Search for accommodation or a hotel with Booking.com.
Les Houches / Chamonix, the Grandeur of the Glaciers
In the Chamonix valley, several villages offer views over the snows of Mont Blanc. In Les Houches, you can admire the sheer scale of the Bossons Glacier, which tumbles directly down from the snows of Mont Blanc. From Chamonix, a charming and cosmopolitan tourist town, you can take in the Bossons Glacier, the Aiguille du Midi and part of the summit snows. Of course, taking the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi is an extraordinary experience whatever the season. Up there, you find yourself plunged into a world of snow and ice.
A little further up, the village of Argentière also offers a lovely view of the glaciers. Between Chamonix and Les Houches, you can stay at the Rocky Pop, an affordable hotel with a pop-art feel and a stunning view of the Bossons Glacier and the Mont Blanc du Tacul. The valley is also home to some of the finest hotels and residences in the Alps.
Le Chazelet & La Grave, Facing the Giants of the Écrins
Mont Blanc isn’t the only place in the Alps with glaciers. You’ll also find them in the Vanoise and the Écrins. North of the Écrins, at the foot of the Glacier de la Girose and La Meije, La Grave and Le Chazelet are two lovely villages with views of these last great ice giants of the Southern Alps. Here, the peaks brush against 4,000 metres and fine glaciers still endure at altitude. At La Grave, a cable car whisks you up to walk on the glacier with a guide, or simply to admire it before it disappears… Plenty of hikes are possible nearby, notably on the Plateau d’Emparis, a wonderful plateau facing the Écrins glaciers…
And also…
Other villages offer a fine view of Mont Blanc without making our main selection: the heights of Megève and Praz-sur-Arly, as well as Passy, Sallanches and Domancy in the Arve valley. At altitude, Les Arcs and La Plagne offer a lovely balcony view of Mont Blanc from a distance. At Tignes, Bessans, Bonneval-sur-Arc, Vallouise, Champagny-en-Vanoise and Pralognan-en-Vanoise, among others, you can admire the glaciers of the Vanoise.