After more than a decade of planning and work, the new Mer de Glace gondola lift was officially inaugurated on 18 February 2025 at the Mer de Glace ski resort. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. This modernised infrastructure, which has been in service for over a year, is designed to facilitate access to the glacier in a context marked by retreating ice and an increase in the number of steps to be climbed.
Although the Mer de Glace has long been one of Chamonix's must-see attractions, access to it has become increasingly difficult over the years.
As the glacier melted, the existing infrastructure could no longer guarantee smooth access to the ski lifts or the famous Grotte de Glace. Until now, visitors had to climb down and back up no fewer than 580 steps, a major obstacle for many visitors.
In order to keep the site accessible, the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc, in collaboration with the Chamonix municipality, decided to replace the old gondola lift with a brand new one.
A high-performance, sustainable infrastructure
The project, which was approved after lengthy negotiations with the environmental authorities, has been designed to last 40 years and is fully reversible, a key factor in its acceptability.
The new gondola boasts 16 cabins each accommodating 10 passengers, 6 towers supporting the entire system, a 581-metre run with a 203-metre difference in height, and a transport capacity of 1,500 people per hour.
At present, this gondola lift is reserved for Vallée Blanche return passengers (ascending from the glacier) between 10.30am and 4pm, and for downhill climbers between 10.30am and 11.30am. Pedestrians do not currently have access to this lift, although its opening to a wider public is under consideration.
A link between modernity and environmental issues
As well as being of tourist and practical interest, this gondola lift embodies a growing awareness of climate issues.
Chamonix and the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc want to use it as a lever to raise awareness of the evolution of the Mer de Glace, a direct witness to global warming.
This project has also been designed with safety in mind: it now enables rapid repatriation of climbers and skiers in all seasons, limiting risks and improving rescue management on a site that is constantly evolving.
An emotional inauguration
The event on 18 February was attended by the families of the two workers who died during construction in July 2022. A poignant tribute was paid to them, highlighting the human investment behind this emblematic infrastructure.
READ MORE: How do I get to the Ice Grotto in Chamonix?
This new gondola lift is part of a vast project to modernise the Montenvers site, which will soon include the Glaciorium, a space dedicated to the history and evolution of the Mer de Glace.
More than just a lift, it represents a major turning point for Chamonix, combining the preservation of the region, modernity and a commitment to the environment.
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