Mountain Portraits
Immerse yourself in the essence of the Alps, where every massif, every summit tells its own legend. Through detailed portraits, explore the grandeur, history and secrets of these stone giants, emblems of majesty and mystery.
19 articles

Mountain Portraits
Täschhorn Portrait of the King of the Mischabels massif
In the Mischabels massif, a king without a crown dazzles the Valais. The Täschhorn rises above the village of Täsch, yet remains in the shadow of its neighbor the Dom. An elusive colossus of rugged beauty, an inaccessible jewel in the Alpine sky. Today I present you with a portrait of the Täschhorn, like an ode to the high mountains. Portrait of Täschhorn: the birth of a king in the Mischabel massif From Saas-Fee, the mountain is a discreet, faithful companion to the Dom des Mischabel. But from Zermatt, the Täschhorn tells a very different story. The story of a king without finery or ...

Mountain Portraits
Mont Blanc portrait of a sovereign at the summit the alps
High above Chamonix, Mont Blanc rises to an altitude of 4808m. The highest peak in the Alps, it is also the highest summit in Western Europe. Defying the laws of nature, it defies man's attempt to conquer it. Like a diamond in the rough, it fascinates explorers, dazzles mountaineers and inspires the world. But do we really know what its history is? Here's my portrait of Mont Blanc at the summit the Alps. Portrait of Mont Blanc: the birth of a legendary summit in the Alps At a time when tectonic plates are colliding, when seas are ...

Mountain Portraits
Mont Rose Massif Portrait of an Alpine Giant
Mont Rose stands like a fortress of rock and ice on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The second highest mountain range in the Alps after Mont Blanc, it culminates at the summit the Dufourspitze, at 4633 m altitude. Mont Rose rises to nature's challenges. Its vertiginous Italian face towers above all other walls in the Alps, and the Dufourspitze, queen of the mountains, dominates Switzerland. But when the light fades and the curtain falls, what remains of this wall ...

Mountain Portraits
Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla History of the ascent of an emblematic summit
The Valais Alps abound with gigantic, sublime mountains. But in the heart of this realm of rock and ice, nature has fashioned a massif without equal. Here, I present a portrait of the Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla , a celestial journey to the gates of the sublime. Portrait of the Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla : the birth of a colossal mountain The Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla blaze in the skies above the Swiss Valais. Born from the union of summits and breccias, they take flight between Lac des Dix and Val d'Arolla. This mountain chain in the Valais Alps unfurls its ridges from the Col des ...

Mountain Portraits
History of the Eiger Mythical giant of the bernese alps
The Eiger. The name resonates with us like that of a legendary hero. An inaccessible mountain, an implacable peak. Yet the Eiger is neither the highest nor the strongest of the summits of Grindelwald. So why is it so fascinating? Here's the story of the Eiger, the mythical giant of bernese alps. History of the Eiger: Birth of a giant in the Bernese mountainsOberland The Eiger was born one day from the Swiss Alps. When, at the dawn of time, sedimentary rocks folded and piled on top of each other shaped the Alps from the Lower Valais to the Säntis. The Eiger emerges from these upheavals, determined to ...

Mountain Portraits
Lyskamm summit in the Swiss Alps
A wall erected at the crossroads of worlds, Lyskamm celebrates the grandeur of the Alps on the borders of Valais and Italy. Between Breithorn and the Mont-Rose massif, the mountain shows off its fabulous glaciers. But what does it conceal in its rocky depths? And how does it relate to man? Today, I'd like to take a look at Lyskamm, that fearsome giant at summit in the Swiss Alps. Portrait of Lyskamm : A wall of ice in the Valais Alps The Lyskamm, or Liskamm, was born of the furious folding of the Mont Rose nappe. By dint of tumult and ...

Mountain Portraits
History of Piz Bernina Queen mountain of the eastern Alps
Like a solitary hero embodying greatness, the Piz Bernina rises over 4000 metres into the sky of the Swiss Grisons. Carried by the splendor of Biancograt, the mountain joins the Italian Alps through the Spallagrat. But beyond the intertwined glaciers and rocks, can you hear the story of this fierce king? The rustle of an indomitable land in search of infinity? Here's the story of Piz Bernina, queen mountain of the Eastern Alps. History of Piz Bernina : Birth of a giant at summit in Graubünden summit the highest mountain in the Bernina range, Piz Bernina ...

Mountain Portraits
The Mönch The hero of the bernese alps
The Mönch feeds the imagination of Alpine lovers. In the shadow of its brothers, the mountain rises, unrolls its ridges and points its sparkling summit skywards. Alpinists love to climb it and contemplate the splendours of Grindelwald and the canton of Berne. But do we really know the history of this colossus that rises alongside Jungfrau and the Eiger? Here's a portrait of the Mönch, hero of the bernese alps triptych. The Mönch: hero of the bernese alps triptych On the borders of the Valais and Bern cantons, the Mönch unfurls its grandiose ridges. ...

Mountain Portraits
La Dent d'Hérens Elusive treasure of the Valais Alps
Can you hear the echo of an impenetrable mountain? On the borders of Switzerland and Italy, it hides in the shadows of its dazzling sisters. Hiding its infinite beauty from the eyes of the world. Today, I'd like to tell you the story of the Dent d'Hérensthe elusive treasure of the Valais Alps. The Dent d'Hérens : Birth of an Alpine giant on the Swiss-Italian border La Dent d'Hérens arose several million years ago from the brutal clash of the tectonic plates of Africa and Europe. From the folding of the rocks, the mountain awoke and pointed skywards in a sudden burst of ...

Mountain Portraits
The Zinalrothorn imperial crown torch of Zinal
From the heights of Zinal rises a mountain, a sylph-like goddess of exceptional stature whose silhouette unites dissonant waves. The Zinalrothorn seems to defy the laws of nature. How can such a slender peak become so imposing? How can its jagged rock withstand so much combat? The Zinalrothorn, thousand-year-old beacon of the Imperial Crown of Zinal, defies time and mankind to reach the sky at the summit of the Valais Alps. Portrait of the Zinalrothorn: Flambeau de la Couronne impériale de Zinal Like a lighthouse illuminated in the middle of the night, ...

Mountain Portraits
Le Grand Combin Portrait of a giant of the Valais Alps
An ice fortress dominating the Haute Route from Chamonix-Zermatt, Grand Combin brandishes its imposing peaks with supreme élan, the better to proclaim to the world the fleeting beauty of its eternal snows. Portrait of a mountain that nurtures us: Grand Combin, the giant of the Valais Alps. Grand Combin : an ice giant in the Swiss Valais On the borders of the Val de Bagnes and the Val d'Entremont, the Alps spread their wings of sparkling ice. The ridges of the Combin massif stand like the seven bastions of an impenetrable wall. Carried from west to east by the Petit Combin, the Combin de Corbassière, de Boveire, de ...

Mountain Portraits
The imperial crown of Zinal Diadem of the val d’Anniviers
Who hasn't dreamed of riding the crests of these prodigious mountains? The Imperial Crown of Zinal captures the hearts of men as much as it illuminates those of the Swiss Alps. Celestial empress or uncompromising nymph, what do we really know about her? Portrait of a fabulous diadem on the heights of val d’Anniviers. The Imperial Crown of Zinal | Legendary mountains in the heart of the Valais Alps At the dawn of the formation of the Alps, the Imperial Crown of Zinal was born from the impetuous folding of a long, thick thrust sheet drifting from Africa towards Europe. A treasure unearthed from the depths of the earth, it ...

Discover Thomas Crauwels
Modern romantic artist, Thomas Crauwels has a recognized and distinctive style that has won numerous Swiss and international awards.
Between Beauty, Majesty and Purity : Thomas Crauwels invites us on a grandiose, authentic journey to meet the giants of snow and ice that have moved him. A conduit for emotions, halfway between two worlds: his works elevate us.
Discover the artist
Between Beauty, Majesty and Purity : Thomas Crauwels invites us on a grandiose, authentic journey to meet the giants of snow and ice that have moved him. A conduit for emotions, halfway between two worlds: his works elevate us.
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