The Mont Blanc massif is a mountain range in the Alps, located mostly in France and Italy, but also straddling Switzerland at its northeastern end. It contains eleven major independent summits, each over 4,000 metres (13,123 ft) in height. It is named after Mont Blanc, the highest point in western Europe and the European Union. Because of its considerable overall altitude, a large proportion of the massif is covered by glaciers, which include the Mer de Glace and the Miage Glacier – the longest glaciers in France and Italy, respectively.
Aerial view of western half of the Mont Blanc massif, seen from the Italian side.
Mont Blanc massif (west)
Mont Blanc massif (east)
Glacier travel – beginners learning the ropes on the Aiguille des Grands Montets
Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, and the highest mountain in Europe outside the Caucasus mountains, rising 4,805.59 m (15,766 ft) above sea level, located on the French-Italian border. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus, and the 11th most prominent mountain in the world.
Mont Blanc from the Aosta Valley (Italy)
Mont Blanc as seen from Valdigne in Aosta Valley, Italy
Mont Blanc from the TMB
The original Vallot refuge (now rebuilt) near Mont Blanc summit, at an altitude of 4,362 m