What is the highest mountain in the Alps?

Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps, rising to roughly 4,807 metres above sea level. Its name means “White Mountain,” referring to the extensive snow and ice covering its summit and upper slopes.

The mountain stands in the Mont Blanc massif on the border between France and Italy. Its exact summit boundary has been disputed historically, although both countries recognize the peak as part of the Franco-Italian Alpine frontier. The massif also extends toward Switzerland and contains numerous glaciers and famous climbing routes.

Mont Blanc’s first recorded ascent took place on 8 August 1786, when Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard reached the summit. The climb is often treated as a landmark in the birth of modern mountaineering. A common mix-up is the Matterhorn: it is one of the Alps’ most recognizable peaks, but at about 4,478 metres it is considerably lower. Dufourspitze, in the Monte Rosa massif, is the Alps’ second-highest summit.