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150th Anniversary of the Golden Age of Mountaineering

Celebrate all things mountaineering in Chamonix

featured in Events calendar Updated

From late June to late October 2015, the Chamonix Valley offers visitors a variety of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of 1865, the Golden Age of Mountaineering

The Programme:

MAJOR  EVENTS

  • July 10 – 11 : Inauguration of the Alpine Club exhibition at the Alpine Museum, Chamonix and of all exhibitions throughout the Valley.
  • July 13th : Climbing World Cup and retrospective on 150 years of Alpinism
  • July 17th : A theatrical sound and light show in Argentière in memory of Chamonix guide Michel Croz, who died on the Matterhorn on July 14 1865.
  • August 13th to 15th : Mountain guide’s festival. A timeless tribute to guides and alpinists: activities for all the family, demonstrations, music, traditional ceremonies in Argentière and Chamonix.

A SERIES OF ILLUSTRATED TALKS IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH

  • Saturday 27th June - Edward Whymper - The English in Savoy By Yves Connac, active member of the Acadamy Florimontane. Salle du Bicentenaire at 18h30. Organised by Les Amis du Vieux Chamonix. Admission free.
  • Thursday 9th July (English spoken) - The Alpine Club –  world’s first mountaineering club by Hywel Lloyd, Chairman of the Alpine Club Library Council. Salle du Bicentenaire at 18h30. Admission free.
  • Thursday 16th July - James David Forbes, pionnier of alpinism by Reine-Marie Faure, Géographe Salle du Bicentenaire at 18h30. Organised by Les Amis du Vieux Chamonix. Admission free.
  • Thursday 23rd July - 1865 : Matterhorn, the perfect summit Conquests on the Matterhorn by leading contemporary alpinists Majestic Hall at 20h30. Admission free.
  • Friday 24th July (English spoken) - Albert Smith, the man of Mont-Blanc by Alan McNee, author of Albert Smith’s biography Salle du Bicentenaire at 18h30. Admission free.
  • Wednesday 5 August - Henri Vallot 1853-1922 (cousin of Joseph Vallot) surveyor of mont Blanc by Madame Lagarde-Fouquet. Salle du Bicentenaire at 18h30. Admission free.
  • Friday 7th August (English spoken) - The life of Edward Whymper by Ian Smith, author of Shadow of the Matterhorn. Salle du Bicentenaire at 18h30. Organised by Les Amis du Vieux Chamonix. Admission free.
  • Tuesday 11th August - And alpinism today? by Gilles Modica, Claude Gardien, les éditions Guérin et la Cie des Guides. Le Majestic at 20h30. Admission free.
  • Tuesday 18th August The triumph of contemplation, Ruskin’s viewpoint by Emma Sdegno, professeur at Ca’Foscari university of Venice ; André Hélard, author of several essays about John Ruskin ; Claude Reichler, honorary professor at Lausanne university. Salle du Bicentenaire at 18h30. Organised by Les Amis du Vieux Chamonix. Admission free.
  • Friday 4th September (English spoken). Women Climbers 1850 – 1900 by Clare Roche, of Birkbeck, University of London. Salle du Bicentenaire at 18h30. Admission free.

Visit the website for more information. 

Venue

Various locations

Location

Map of the surrounding area