The Monchus

The Monchus, in Chamonix

The Monchus is a tasty word of the local speech of Chamonix, that a large restaurant has even adopted as a sign. The Chamonix audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this affectionate term of the mountain people and the Savoyard identity of the valley.

The mountain people's word for the visitors

At the corner of a street, the sign of a large restaurant draws the attention: Le Monchu. But this name designates neither a Savoyard dish nor an old tradition. The Monchus, in the speech of the mountain people, is a bit the local equivalent of an affectionate and teasing term to designate the visitors, the tourists and all those who are not from the country. A word slightly mocking but benevolent, which says with humour the difference between the people of the valley, accustomed to the demands of the mountain, and the newcomers, sometimes a little clumsy with the local customs. This picturesque word testifies to the strong identity and the well-tempered character of the inhabitants of Chamonix, proud of their Savoyard culture. The Monchus is a typical expression that tells, with a smile, the soul of the valley.

What to see

Here you spot the sign of the restaurant Le Monchu at the corner of the street, and you discover this tasty word of the mountain speech, an affectionate and teasing term designating the visitors and all those who are not from the country, a witness of the Savoyard identity of Chamonix. The Monchus tells with humour the soul of the valley. It is a stop for the curious, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The sign and the word of the Monchus are discovered in the heart of Chamonix, at the corner of a street, reachable on foot. It is an element of the urban landscape freely visible from the street; the restaurant has its own hours. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

What does the word Monchu mean in Chamonix?

In the speech of the mountain people, it is an affectionate and teasing term to designate the visitors, the tourists and all those who are not from the country; a large restaurant of Chamonix has made it its sign.

Where to discover the Monchus in Chamonix?

In the heart of Chamonix, at the corner of a street, in France.