Brevent Cable Car, Chamonix (must see)

The Le Brevent Cable Car is a must-visit attraction in Chamonix and is considered one of the best ways to access the summit of Brevent. The cable car offers many ascent and descent routes from the summit or PlanPraz, which is an intermediate station.

The idea for the cable car was conceived in 1912 by Alfred Cachat, the owner of two large hotels in Chamonix. The peak of Brevent was already a popular viewpoint, but it was only accessible by passing through the Col de Brevent up the "chimney of Brevent." Cachat envisioned an "aerial funicular" that would unite everything from the first place.

However, after many setbacks, Cachat gave up, and Édouard Pellerin, a promoter, took over the project with André Rebuffel as the consulting engineer and project manager. In 1920, the works began, and in 1927, the first cabin was delivered by the workshops of Chamonix René Schmidt. On July 30, 1928, the cable car officially opened its doors, becoming the third cable car in France.

The Brevent Cable Car is a real technological feat, with a range of 1,950 meters long and 500 meters of unevenness, without pylons. It made the summit of Brevent, at 2,500 meters, easily accessible. After its construction, skiing became popular in the area, and the Brevent became the starting point for vertiginous descents.

Today, the site of Brevent is open in summer, providing service in its two sections: the Planpraz cable car and the Brevent cable car. The cable car operates from August 23 to September 12, 2021, with departures every 15 minutes, weather permitting.

One interesting detail about the Brevent Cable Car is that no reservations are made. Visitors arrive, pay, and go up or down, depending on their starting point. Dogs on a leash are allowed, adding to the cable car's accessibility and appeal for pet owners.