Mont Blanc is the highest peak in the Alps, reaching about 4,809 metres on the France–Italy border.
The mountain’s exact snow-and-ice elevation varies slightly because its summit cap changes over time. The rocky summit lies lower than the highest measured snow surface, so published figures can differ by several metres.
Mont Blanc’s massif spans the French Haute-Savoie and Italy’s Aosta Valley. Chamonix, France, and Courmayeur, Italy, are major gateways for climbing and tourism.
The first recorded ascent took place in 1786, when Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard reached the summit. The climb helped establish modern mountaineering in the Alps.