History of the Alps

From makeshift shelters to comfortable lodgings, alpine refuges have evolved over time. As landmarks in the heart of the mountains, they play an essential role in man's relationship with nature. Here, I present the history of the first mountain refuges, an Alpine feat at the gates of heaven. History of the first mountain refuges: from their origins to the advent of mountaineering At a time when the Alps were unexplored, only a few men ventured there, braving the cold and the dangers. Shepherds and hunters populating the valleys, crystal-makers and smugglers plying the summits to survive ...

When rock and snow mingle with wind, the Alps shimmer and stir our souls. Contemplating this impetuous and dazzling nature, we are transported to the highest summits. A poetic journey or a quest for initiation, the peaks guide us from shadow to light, as if into the heart of ourselves. And when man photographs the mountain in black and white, it becomes a masterpiece, an eternal diamond. Black & white mountain photography: a complex art Until the 19th century, the high mountains remained a frightening, unexplored land. Then came the time of the first ascents...

By turns journalist and war correspondent, mountain guide and mountaineer, explorer and writer. Who is this man who defies life to resist him? Insatiably curious, in love with man and nature, nothing seems to stand in the way of his desires. A trailblazer and visionary, he was one of the first. Discover the story of a legend of the Alps and beyond, Roger Frison-Roche, a modern-day adventurer. Roger Frison-Roche: Birth of a modern-day adventurer Roger Frison-Roche was born on February 10, 1906 in Paris, in the brasserie run by his parents. Originally from Beaufort-sur-Doron, ...

In the heart of the 19th century, a pioneering engineer changed the course of history. Under the bold direction of Guillaume-Henri Dufour, the first 1:100,000 topographic map of Switzerland was produced. The result of a remarkable piece of work, it revolutionized the world of science, the army and administration. Here's the story of the Dufour map, the mother of the Confederation's maps. Guillaume-Henri Dufour: Creator of Switzerland's first topographical map It all began when Guillaume-Henri Dufour was appointed quartermaster general of the Swiss army in 1832. For several years already, Switzerland had been planning to complete the topographical coverage of ...

From time immemorial, men have climbed mountains, fascinated by the luminous brilliance of crystals. Treasure hunters exploring the heights. Mineral lovers and thrill-seekers. Here's the story of the crystal makers at summit . Crystals bloom in the Mont Blanc massif It all began 25 million years ago. The Earth shakes, the abyss boils. On the borders of Africa and Europe, tectonic plates clashed and tore each other apart. During their merciless struggle, cavities form in the heart of the rock. Water seeps into them, happy to escape for a while from the fury ...

Highlighted by Romantic writers, the mountains of the 19th century became the stage for all kinds of exploits. At the time of its conquest, it shone with a thousand lights, inspiring poets and mountaineers alike. Until the day when man, replete with his bravery, realizes that summits leads to the rest he had so long hoped for. Perhaps too late, as time will tell. In this third and final instalment, I take you on a journey of discovery of the Alps in literature from the golden age of mountaineering to today's troubled times. Climbing stories: mountaineers conquer literature In the golden age of ...

Out of the darkness, the Alps emerge. Highlighted by Romantic literature, the mountains are about to open their hearts to man. Under the lyrical pen of the great writers, the mountains shine and shine. A new era begins in the celestial kingdom. After exploring the genesis of Alpine stories, in this second instalment I take you on a tour of the Alps in literature during the golden age of Romanticism. The Alps in literature: the golden age of Romanticism In the 19th century, the Romantic movement took off. From a threatening realm, the Alps became the place ...

The Alps have always inspired mankind. Fighters and poets, thinkers and novelists, they have nourished their art and reflection with the power of the mountains and their immensity. Fearsome creature or divine muse, symbol of power or solitude, the mountain becomes in turn a source of light or darkness. Awakening our most vivid emotions as well as our wildest instincts, they guide us from transcendence to contemplation, from rage to the sublime. And, at the end of the journey, brings us back to ourselves. Is this not the ambition of every adventure? In this ...

In 1942, Roger Frison-Roche shed light on the profession of mountain guide in his famous novel Premier de cordée. The world then discovered the exceptional know-how of these pass-keepers, who until then had remained in the shadow of the highest summits. Here, I tell you the story of the guardians of the Alps, seasoned mountaineering virtuosos. The guardians of the Alps : Pass guardians from Antiquity to the Renaissance Since ancient times, armies have called on mountain dwellers to guide them through the twists and turns of these hostile places. Crossing the passes is a necessity if you want to ...

Iconic mountaineer and renowned cartographer, visionary explorer and genius photographer, Bradford Washburn reinvents the art of the mountain as he makes history. Resolutely and passionately, he joins summits to better sublimate them. Alongside his wife Barbara Washburn, he has devoted his life to the breathtaking natural world, from the heights of Alaska to the far reaches of the Himalayas. Portrait of a legendary adventurer, Bradford Washburn, precursor of high-mountain aerial photography. Bradford Washburn: Birth of a legendary mountaineer at summit de l'Aiguille Verte Henry Bradford Washburn Jr. was born on June 7, 1910 in ...

Combative and determined, Gaston Rébuffat clung to the mountains as he grasped life, with a fiery passion mingled with elegance. From the calanques of Marseille, he became one of the most brilliant mountaineers of his time. Holder of the most daring records, he was the first man to successfully climb the six great north faces of the Alps. A member of the historic summit expedition to Annapurna in 1950, and a renowned writer and film-maker, he will always be remembered as one of the most famous mountain guides in the Chamonix valley. Portrait of Gaston Rébuffat, poet of the peaks and exceptional mountaineer. Gaston Rébuffat ...

Lionel Terray, a prodigious mountaineer with a legendary destiny, lives to the rhythm of the mountains and their titanic peaks. Nourishing his heart with the scent of the peaks, his body clings to the rock as if they were one. From the highest summits of the Alps to the eternal snows of the Himalayas, from the fabulous Andes to the ice of Alaska, he triumphs over the most perilous crossings. Portrait of an exceptional adventurer, mountaineer Lionel Terray, virtuoso conqueror of the high mountains. Lionel Terray: Birth of an exceptional mountaineer in the French Alps On July 25, 1921, in Grenoble, France, a star was born. Conqueror of the ...