History of the Alps

The Alps have gone from being a wild and hostile land to a popular destination. And from being fearsome creatures, the high mountains have become the Grail of every adventurer. A dream environment where you can ski, hike and recharge your batteries. But what's the real story behind this metamorphosis? Let me take you on a tour of Alpine tourism in the 19th century. Tourism in the Alps at the dawn of the 19th century From the 18th century onwards, young aristocrats and bourgeois from all over Europe were driven to cross the Alps when ...

As the seasons change, herds come and go on the slopes of the Alps. Inalpe and désalpe are celebrated by men in the heart of the valleys. What is this age-old tradition that enchants the alpine pastures and resonates beyond the highest mountains? Let's discover transhumance in the Alps. Transhumance in the Alps: The birth of a thousand-year-old tradition In the heyday of the Middle Ages, people made their environment their own. They spread their livestock across the high pastures according to the seasons. Between the Alps and the Mediterranean coast, the movements of the herds ...

From father to son, the Tairraz family have dedicated their art to the Mont Blanc massif. Seasoned mountaineers immortalizing the Alps while adapting to the challenges of their time. Four generations of passionate, visionary men fascinated by the splendor of the Roof of Europe. This is the story of the Tairraz family, pioneers of alpine photography in Chamonix. Joseph Tairraz: Pioneer of alpine photography in Chamonix Joseph Tairraz was born in Chamonix in 1827. Nurtured by the beauty of the fertile valley and arid summits , he dreamed of exploring new horizons. He soon became a guide, leading a number of richly endowed high-mountain ...

Widely recognized as the most gifted mountain guide of his generation, Armand Charlet rises to every challenge the Alps throw at him. Taming the Aiguille Verte and the Aiguilles du Diable, he sails from firsts to incredible feats, on the flanks of Mont Blanc and at the gates of heaven. I invite you to discover the story of Armand Charlet, portrait of a legendary guide. Armand Charlet: Birth of a legendary guide Armand Charlet was born in Argentière on February 9, 1900. In the Chamonix valley, the needles of rock bend over his ...

From makeshift shelters to comfortable lodgings, alpine refuges have evolved over time. As landmarks in the heart of the mountains, they play an essential role in man's relationship with nature. Here, I present the history of the first mountain refuges, an Alpine feat at the gates of heaven. History of the first mountain refuges: from their origins to the advent of mountaineering At a time when the Alps were unexplored, only a few men ventured there, braving the cold and the dangers. Shepherds and hunters populating the valleys, crystal-makers and smugglers plying the summits to survive ...

When rock and snow mingle with wind, the Alps shimmer and stir our souls. Contemplating this impetuous and dazzling nature, we are transported to the highest summits. A poetic journey or a quest for initiation, the peaks guide us from shadow to light, as if into the heart of ourselves. And when man photographs the mountain in black and white, it becomes a masterpiece, an eternal diamond. Black & white mountain photography: a complex art Until the 19th century, the high mountains remained a frightening, unexplored land. Then came the time of the first ascents...

By turns journalist and war correspondent, mountain guide and mountaineer, explorer and writer. Who is this man who defies life to resist him? Insatiably curious, in love with man and nature, nothing seems to stand in the way of his desires. A trailblazer and visionary, he was one of the first. Discover the story of a legend of the Alps and beyond, Roger Frison-Roche, a modern-day adventurer. Roger Frison-Roche: Birth of a modern-day adventurer Roger Frison-Roche was born on February 10, 1906 in Paris, in the brasserie run by his parents. Originally from Beaufort-sur-Doron, ...

In the heart of the 19th century, a pioneering engineer changed the course of history. Under the bold direction of Guillaume-Henri Dufour, the first 1:100,000 topographic map of Switzerland was produced. The result of a remarkable piece of work, it revolutionized the world of science, the army and administration. Here's the story of the Dufour map, the mother of the Confederation's maps. Guillaume-Henri Dufour: Creator of Switzerland's first topographical map It all began when Guillaume-Henri Dufour was appointed quartermaster general of the Swiss army in 1832. For several years already, Switzerland had been planning to complete the topographical coverage of ...

From time immemorial, men have climbed mountains, fascinated by the luminous brilliance of crystals. Treasure hunters exploring the heights. Mineral lovers and thrill-seekers. Here's the story of the crystal makers at summit . Crystals bloom in the Mont Blanc massif It all began 25 million years ago. The Earth shakes, the abyss boils. On the borders of Africa and Europe, tectonic plates clashed and tore each other apart. During their merciless struggle, cavities form in the heart of the rock. Water seeps into them, happy to escape for a while from the fury ...

Highlighted by Romantic writers, the mountains of the 19th century became the stage for all kinds of exploits. At the time of its conquest, it shone with a thousand lights, inspiring poets and mountaineers alike. Until the day when man, replete with his bravery, realizes that summits leads to the rest he had so long hoped for. Perhaps too late, as time will tell. In this third and final instalment, I take you on a journey of discovery of the Alps in literature from the golden age of mountaineering to today's troubled times. Climbing stories: mountaineers conquer literature In the golden age of ...

Out of the darkness, the Alps emerge. Highlighted by Romantic literature, the mountains are about to open their hearts to man. Under the lyrical pen of the great writers, the mountains shine and shine. A new era begins in the celestial kingdom. After exploring the genesis of Alpine stories, in this second instalment I take you on a tour of the Alps in literature during the golden age of Romanticism. The Alps in literature: the golden age of Romanticism In the 19th century, the Romantic movement took off. From a threatening realm, the Alps became the place ...

The Alps have always inspired mankind. Fighters and poets, thinkers and novelists, they have nourished their art and reflection with the power of the mountains and their immensity. Fearsome creature or divine muse, symbol of power or solitude, the mountain becomes in turn a source of light or darkness. Awakening our most vivid emotions as well as our wildest instincts, they guide us from transcendence to contemplation, from rage to the sublime. And, at the end of the journey, brings us back to ourselves. Is this not the ambition of every adventure? In this ...