Chamonix Events - Summer

Fête de la Musique is the celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21st June in cities, towns and villages across France – Chamonix being no exception! More than a music festival, the Fête de la Musique is a free event that spills out from the bars and restaurants onto the streets and encompasses every type of music imaginable, from local amateur teen bands to professional classical musicians, from club DJ’s to traditional folk bands.

Starting in the afternoon, the event is a family occasion that is open to all. It is a great opportunity to wander round Chamonix, taking in the sights and enjoying the party atmosphere! There are often large stages set up outside the Tourist Office, in Place du Mont Blanc (by the Galerie Alpina) and in Place Balmat (by the Post Office). One of the treats of the Fête de la Musique is to book an outside table at one of Chamonix’s many restaurants and sit back to watch the action (we recommend booking in advance on this popular night).

As the evening wears on, the party steps up a notch and many of the streets and squares turn into open-air dance floors as DJ’s take their decks outside and turn the volume up. If you really want to experience the carnival atmosphere you should head down to the Rue de Moulin, a narrow cobbled pedestrian street where revellers squeeze in to dance to the music pumping out of the many bars and from the live bands playing anywhere they can find space!

Fête de la Musique is one of those certain nights throughout the year when the French authorities waive normal licensing laws, allowing the revelry to continue as long as there are people with the stamina to enjoy it – it is definitely one of the not-to-be-missed events of the Chamonix summer social calendar!

If you’re a fan of distance running then the Marathon du Mont Blanc is the ultimate challenge. Covering 42kms and climbing over 1000 metres, this high-altitude race is only for the super-fit! An annual event, the marathon takes place every June and attracts thousands of competitors and spectators. There are a number of extra events held throughout the weekend, enabling everyone to get involved. ... see "Marathon du Mont Blanc" for more

Every year, Chamonix hosts the World Climbing Championships (Coupe du Monde d’Escalade) during which the world’s finest speed and technical climbers descend on the resort for three days of astonishing climbing action. ... see "World Climbing Championships" for more

Every summer France is gripped by the biggest and best cycle race in Europe - Le Tour de France. The Alps have played a large part in the race over the years with the gruelling mountain climbs providing some of the most exciting spectacles of the event. The route changes slightly each year, taking in different towns and villages along the way. Even if the race doesn't pass near to where you are this summer you can guarantee that it will still be avidly watched in bars and cafés around the country with everyone joining in to cheer on the famous yellow jersey! ... see "Le Tour de France" for more

photo source: Hervé Thivierge

Each year during the middle of August the Chamonix valley celebrates the history of its mountain guides and their courageous achievements. Over a 4 day period the Guide Company (La compagnie des Guides) and the event sponsors put on a variety of attractions to raise money and awareness for the guides and to award those with outstanding achievements, as well as remembering those who lost their life on the mountain. The main event of the Festival of the Guides of Chamonix (Fete des Guides de Chamonix) is generally started at the climbing wall at Les Gaillands, Chamonix. This is a ‘tickets only’ event held in the evening and offers live music, traditional food, games for children, fireworks and best of all, a performance on the cliff face by the local mountain guides. The official ceremony is usually followed the proceeding day and commences with the laying of wreaths at the Chamonix cemetery. Guides in traditional costume, consisting of cords and ice axes, make a procession through the town to the church. The president of the company presents medals, blesses the tools of the mountain and announces the honorary guide of the year. There are a number of stalls present selling local fare & mountain related products. To find out the history and traditions of the mountain this event is well worth attending. You can learn more about the company of guides by going to the Maison de Montagne next to the church in Chamonix or visiting the Compagnie des Guides website.

Over the course of three days, participants cover a total of 166kms, 3 countries, 7 valleys, 71 glaciers and 400 summits, experiencing a difference in altitude of 9400 metres. This race is a true test of endurance, a combination of pleasure/pain, highs and lows. The trail begins and ends at Chamonix but you can catch sight of the runners as they pass through Les Houches, Les Contamines, Les Chapieux, Courmayeur, La Fouly, Champex, Trient, Vallorcine, and Flegere. Each of these areas celebrates the achievement of the runners by holding a fete with concerts, barbeques and general encouragement, clapping and cheering as the runners pass by. There is no monetary prize for being the first to complete the course as the philosophy of the trail is that everyone’s a winner – it’s a personal achievement and as such there is a wonderful sense of team spirit about the event. In 2005, the winner crossed the line in an amazing 21 hours and 6 minutes. For us lesser mortals, it is possible to take a similar tour of Mont Blanc over a period of 8 to 10 days, staying in mountain refuges and hopping on the odd bus if necessary! Many people come to Chamonix each year to do just that, the scenery is quite spectacular and you really do feel on top of the world.