At 3,842 metres on the Aiguille du Midi, above Chamonix, a glass box hangs off the summit rock. Step into the Void (Le Pas dans le Vide) lets visitors stand on a transparent floor with about 1,035 metres of empty air beneath their feet and the Mont Blanc massif all around them.
Step into the Void: the glass room at 3,842 metres
The glass room opened to the public on 21 December 2013, after a press preview on 17 December. It was designed by Pierre-Yves Chays, and work began on 19 September 2013. Built around a metal frame, it has glass walls, floor and ceiling, with panels made of three bonded layers of 12 mm glass, and it is rated for winds above 220 km/h. The idea was inspired by the Skywalk over the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It formed part of a wider renovation of the summit estimated at €2.1 million, and the site is owned and operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc.
During the press visit, guests wore slippers to keep the glass floor clear and unscratched. Today an accessible lift serves the room, so visitors with limited mobility can reach it too.
The Aiguille du Midi cable car from Chamonix
The Téléphérique de l’Aiguille du Midi opened in 1955 and was the highest cable car in the world for about two decades. It climbs from Chamonix at about 1,035 metres to the summit area at 3,842 metres, a vertical rise of more than 2,800 metres that is still a record. The first section runs to Plan de l’Aiguille at 2,317 metres; the second climbs straight to the upper station at 3,777 metres with no supporting pylon in between. The ride takes about 20 minutes.
What else to see at the summit
Step into the Void is only one part of the top station. Panoramic terraces face Mont Blanc, and the Tube, a walkway around the central peak, runs above 3,700 metres. In summer, the Vallée Blanche cable car crosses the glaciers to Pointe Helbronner (3,462 m) on the Italian side. The summit is also the start of the Vallée Blanche, an unmarked off-piste ski descent of about 20 km that begins with a steep ridge and should be skied with a mountain guide.
Video: Teaser video: Discover what's new at the Aiguille du Midi (published by Mont Blanc Natural Resort).
Tips for visiting the Aiguille du Midi
- Book ahead: reservations are required and come with a boarding number. New online tickets are often released the day before, and arriving at opening time helps.
- Expect thin, cold air at nearly 3,850 metres. Bring warm layers and sunglasses even in summer.
- Children under 3 are not permitted and the trip is not recommended for under-5s, or for anyone with a heavy cold or heart condition.
- Pets are not allowed (service dogs excepted), and drones are banned on the terraces.
- A round trip to Plan de l’Aiguille costs €43 for an adult, and summit returns run from about €60 to €83 depending on the date (2026 prices).
Explore more height-defying viewpoints: the open-sided Titlis Cliff Walk and a specialist performance between Alpine cable cars.
Related reading
- Highlining Between Vanoise Express Cable Cars
- Greenland’s Blue Meltwater Channels and the Petermann Glacier Context
- Hygge in Winter: Making Room for Comfortable, Unhurried Moments
- Eyjafjallajökull in Time-Lapse: Sean Stiegemeier’s May 2010 Film
No comments