LA MER DE GLACE CHAMONIX

The Mer de Glace, in the Chamonix Valley is the largest glacier in France, 7kms long and 200m deep. In the winter, thousands of skiers, after skiing the Vallee Blanche follow the glacier down to the Montenvers Railway station. The Montenvers Railway, built in 1908, was the first custom-built tourist attraction in the valley. This railway departs from Chamonix and makes its' way up the sides of the Aiguilles de Chamonix to an altitude of 1913m. The station at Montenvers is poised on a rocky ridge overlooking the Mer de Glace glacier. You can take the cable car from the station to the glacier and visit the Ice Grotto.  Visitors can descend from the train station onto the glacier by means of a cable car where they can enter a man made ice grotto.  You will find a collection of ice sculptures inside under the glacier This ice grotto has to be dug out every summer since the glaciers are moving about 70m every year. The Grotto is replaced by a small ice museum in winter.