At the mountain of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe

 From France’s largest city to its largest natural landscape, there is no question that the towering giant of Mont Blanc has to be seen to be believed.

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(In  the Alps, Mont Blanc, meaning "white mountain") lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland) It is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, and the highest mountain in Europe outside the Caucasus mountains. Located on the Franco-Italian border, It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus -- and the 11th most prominent mountain in the world. It extends southwestward from Martigny, Switzerland, for about 25 miles (40 km). The summit is in French territory. Surrounding the massif are the Graian Alps (south), the Chamonix Valley and Savoy Alps (west), the Pennine Alps (northeast), and the Valley of Courmayeur (east).

+ Glaciers cover approximately 40 square miles (100 square km) of Mont Blanc Ice streams stretch from the central ice dome down to below 4,900 feet (1,490 meters). The Mer de Glace, the second longest glacier in the Alps, reached the elevation of 1,250 meters in 1930. At the beginning of the 17th century, glaciers advanced to the bottom of the Chamonix Valley, destroying or burying cultivated land and dwellings. (Since that time, the glaciers have periodically advanced and retreated.)

+ Jean A. Deluc in 1770, and, later, Horace Bénédict de Saussure first drew attention to Mont Blanc’s distinction as western Europe’s highest mountain. That designation stirred adventurers to climb the peak. The summit was conquered in 1786 by Michel-Gabriel Paccard, a doctor from Chamonix, together with Jacques Balmat. Paccard’s achievement, one of the most important in the history of mountaineering, was overshadowed by de Saussure’s ascent the year after.

+ If you’ve got one European long-distance hike on your bucket list, it may well be the Tour du Mont Blanc. Views over sparkling glaciers, Alpine prairies, and lots!) of cheese await anyone who embarks on this border-crossing trek. Circling the largest peak in the Alps, Mont Blanc, the trail covers 170km (105 mi.), climbs more than 10,000 meters (32,800 ft.) in cumulative altitude, and weaves through three Alpine countries Typically, the route begins and ends in Les Houches, France, and follows a counterclockwise loop around the mountain range. (Every dream feels far away -– until one starts to break down what needs to be done to do to achieve it. Here’s what it takes to hike or run the Tour du Mont Blanc.

+ The Mont Blanc massif is also popular for outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, trail running, and winter sports like skiing, and snowboarding. The most popular climbing route to the summit of Mont Blanc is the Goûter Route, which typically takes two days. The three towns and their communes that surround Mont Blanc are Courmayeur in Aosta Valley, Italy; and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and Chamonix in Haute-Savoie, France. The latter town was the site of the first Winter Olympics.