Argentière
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History of Argentière
Argentière is a village located 8km north of Chamonix, at an altitude of 1,250 meters.
This hamlet will win you over with its traditional architecture, Baroque church and 19th-century chapel, as well as its exceptional location at the foot of the impressive Argentière glacier and mythical peaks such as the Aiguille Verte.
The etymological origin of Argentière is thought to come from a silver mine or vein that has since disappeared and which, for some, was found beneath the glacier. For others, the name simply comes from the silvery sheen of the glacier at 3400m.
As Argentière, a commune of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, is closely linked historically to the latter, we invite you to consult the page dedicated to this destination.
The Argentière glacier
During the last Ice Age, the Alps were covered by a thick layer of ice. At the village of Argentière, it reached an altitude of 2,500m. At that time, ice from the Argentière glacier flowed directly over the Col des Montets (1,461 m) towards Vallorcine and the Rhône valley. After melting in the Tardiglacial period, the height of the ice was no longer sufficient to cross the col, and it only flowed along the Arve valley, initially joining the other Chamonix glaciers before the Argentière glacier became entirely separate.
In the millennia that followed, there was no flood on the scale of the Little Ice Age.
100 years ago, the glacier reached as far as the Argentière church (1,250 m). Between 1908 and 1951, the ice in the terminal tongue was cut to supply hotels in summer. It was lowered by cable and production reached 24-30 tons/day. This activity ceased with the widespread use of refrigerators.
Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve
Created in 1974, the 3,300-hectare Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve peaks at between 1,200 m and 2,965 m. The reserve is characterized by steep slopes and a spectacular array of flora. From moraines to glaciers, a multitude of plants have adapted to the extreme living conditions. A unique balcony from which to observe Mt-Blanc and its glaciers.
Grands Montets ski area
Located between 1235 and 2800 meters above sea level, the Grands Montets ski area offers the world's greatest vertical drops in the heart of the high mountains, close to the glaciers.
The slopes on three sides of the mountain (the Argentière glacier, Lognan and La Pendant) offer a wide choice of runs and great off-piste skiing.
For freestyle enthusiasts, a snowpark and boardercross await you in the Lognan area (filmed by several HDTV cameras).
Hiking
There's no shortage of hiking trails from Argentière, including those to Lac Blanc, the Aiguilles Rouges and the cirque du glacier d'Argentière. The village also boasts some fine climbing spots, such as Tournoir.