Star Studded Guest List for Mont Blanc's Centenary

This influx of rich and famous clientele will no doubt further bolster the local economy. The event will have raked in an estimated 600 000 euros by the end of the weekend, through bed reservations, 1500 of the them, the 10 day rental of the Majestic hotel's assembly rooms and the gala dinner laid on by Chamonix restaurateur, Pierre Carrier.

No one will dispute that this cash injection is a good thing for the town, however, the event has not been without its controversy. Since 15th January work has been going on around the clock to ready the site close to the bois de bouchet ski de fond pistes, where the covert construction of an ice palace is said to have been taking place. The snow for the lavish structure had to be imported and transported in huge lorries from Sweden in order to produce the desired translucent effect. It was this extravagance that provoked disquiet among local environmentalists who are constantly fighting to hold back the flow of heavy goods vehicles through the valley. The seven trucks rumoured to be required for the operation was simply unacceptable. However, town counsellors, aware of the revenue that such an event would bring and of the possibility of losing it to neighbouring resort Megeve, were quick to vote in favour. The director of the tourist office managed to appease some of the dissenters by revealing that only two trucks would in fact be needed and by pointing out that a lot more would be used to replenish the snow on the Bossons ski jump in time for the national championships next weekend.

Organisers hope that any remaining protesters will stay away this evening and that the extraordinary celebrations will come off without a hitch.

Source: Le Dauphiné Libéré