Monument à Balmat et Saussure

This statue in the center of Chamonix is not always well understood. It would be easy to think that the two men were the first to climb Mont Blanc (4810m) on August 8, 1786. However, one of the two is in fact the Swiss financier who supported the expedition, but who did not. has not climbed. The second mountaineer who managed to reach the top with Jacques Balmat was actually Doctor Paccard, but he is not on the podium with them ...

Beautiful views of the town and Mont Blanc from here.

Monument to Jacques Balmat. One of the first climbers of Mont Blanc, erected in 1887 in the town center: Balmat points the way to the summit of the initiator Horace Bénédict de Saussure. The monument is considered to be one of the most famous in the Alps and is surely the most popular photo motif from Chamonix, together with the mountain itself. Michel-Gabriel Paccard, the second best-in-line and head and engine of success, has had his monument since 1986 on the banks of the Arve.
Source: Wikitravel. org

Jacques Balmat (* 1762 in Chamonix, † 1834 in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) was a Savoyard Gamsjäger, crystal seekers, climbers and finally mountain guides.

Balmat mounted together with the physician Michel-Gabriel Paccard on 8 August 1786 as the first Mont Blanc. This ascent of the highest peak of the Alps, and thus Europe outside the Caucasus (on the border with Asia) was at the suggestion of Geneva researcher Horace -Bénédict de Saussure, the Balmat finally pointed the way to the mountain and twice led up.
Source: de. m. wikipedia

These are the two who first climbed Mont Blanc