A century-old chalet sits in the centre of Chamonix, but it's not any old chalet: this one was once a crystal trading post. It's a reminder of the past riches of this Haute Savoy city, which was a sort of El Dorado for crystal hunters from the end of the 18th century. It was here that Michel Comte, a crystal merchant, sold exceptional rocks and minerals collected from the steep mountain slopes. The Mont-Blanc Massif harboured such treasures, especially smoky quartz and the even rarer pink flourites, formed 20 million years ago when the Alps were born. Several years back, the chalet was fully renovated, and a pâtisserie-chocolaterie now occupies the ground floor. The upper level houses a tea salon, art gallery and crystal shop. This is the only place in Chamonix where you can purchase precious and semi-precious stones, and enjoy a day out at the same time!
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