The Arve river and its mills

The Arve and its mills, in Chamonix

The Arve is the river that crosses Chamonix, formerly lined with mills that made the valley live. The Chamonix audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this mountain torrent and its role in the life of the past, before the era of tourism.

The river and the mills of the past

The Arve is the river that takes its source in the glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif and crosses the valley of Chamonix before continuing its route towards Geneva. This mountain torrent, with lively and fresh waters, long set the rhythm of the life of the valley. Before the arrival of tourism, which made the fortune of Chamonix, the inhabitants lived modestly from agriculture, breeding and crafts. The force of the water of the Arve and its tributaries was used to drive mills, which served to grind the grain, saw the wood or work the materials, playing an essential role in the local economy. A witness of this laborious past and of the traditional life of the mountain, the Arve and the memory of its mills recall the Chamonix from before the tourist glaciers.

What to see

Here you discover the Arve, the mountain torrent with lively waters from the glaciers of Mont Blanc that crosses the valley, and you evoke the mills of the past, driven by the force of the water to grind the grain and saw the wood, witnesses of the traditional life before tourism. The Arve and its mills recall the Chamonix of yesteryear. It is a stop for those curious about history, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Arve crosses Chamonix, reachable on foot along its banks, public spaces freely accessible. The promenade along the water is particularly pleasant in fine weather. You evoke the memory of the mills of the past along the route.

What were the mills of the Arve used for in Chamonix?

The force of the water of the Arve and its tributaries drove mills serving to grind the grain, saw the wood or work the materials, playing an essential role in the economy of the valley before the era of tourism.

Where is the Arve in Chamonix?

The Arve crosses the valley of Chamonix, from the glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif, in France.