Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is an Alpine resort in the Haute-Savoie department of south-eastern France. It first grew up as a spa town in the 19th C, before evolving into a ski resort. Set on the flanks of Mont Blanc, it has access to a huge area for skiing and snow-boarding, climbing and mountaineering.
The TIC is at Office de Tourisme de Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, 43 Rue de Mont Blanc, +33 4 50 47 76 08. Daily 09:00-19:00..
The TIC is at Office de Tourisme de Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, 43 Rue de Mont Blanc, +33 4 50 47 76 08. Daily 09:00-19:00..
See Mont Blanc without toiling up it, by riding the Tramway, as above.
- Ski: the season runs from mid-Dec to mid-April, and is as snow-sure as you'll find anywhere. The ski pass for the surrounding area plus Megeve is "Evasion Mont Blanc", with a six day adult pass costing 240 euros. The Mont-Blanc Unlimited extends as far as Vallorcine, Martigny and Verbier in Switzerland, and Courmayeur in Italy, six day adult pass 315 euros.
- Climb Mont Blanc: St Gervais is the base for the usual ascent, the Voie Royale. Other routes ascend from Chamonix and Courmayeur. Reckon three days and two nights on the mountain by any route.
Ski: the season runs from mid-Dec to mid-April, and is as snow-sure as you'll find anywhere. The ski pass for the surrounding area plus Megeve is "Evasion Mont Blanc", with a six day adult pass costing 240 euros. The Mont-Blanc Unlimited extends as far as Vallorcine, Martigny and Verbier in Switzerland, and Courmayeur in Italy, six day adult pass 315 euros.
Climb [[Mont Blanc]]: St Gervais is the base for the usual ascent, the Voie Royale. Other routes ascend from Chamonix and Courmayeur. Reckon three days and two nights on the mountain by any route.
- Rey Leon Fromages de Savoie, 2524 Route du Fayet (M-Sa 08:00-12:30 & 14:30-19:00). Big selection of cheese, reasonably priced.
Most eating places are in the valley near the railway station:
- L Anatolie, 193 Ave de Chamonix (Daily 11:00-14:00 & 18:00-22:00) Turkish.
- Le Cairn, 14 rue de la Poste (Daily 07:30-20:00) Brasserie.
Up the hill are:
- Khue Danh, 935 Ave de Miage (Daily 12:00-14:00 & 18:00-22:00) Vietnamese.
- Le Galeta, 150 Impasse des Lupins (Daily 19:00-23:00) Savoyard specialties and grills.
Standard advice applies about safety on the mountain, whether skiing, hiking or whatever.
In 1892, 200 people were killed when a water pocket burst out of the Tête Rousse Glacier above town and surged down the valley. In 2010 they found a similar pocket: it's deep-set and can't altogether be drained, and perhaps there's more. So if you hear the siren . .
Geneva is the nearest big city.
Had enough of cold mountains? Head down the hill to Lyon then follow the Rhone valley towards Avignon and the South of France.