Lac Blanc refuge remains closed
Lease dispute continues to halt summer opening
The management have refused to vacate the premises after their lease expired in 2017.
The Lac Blanc refuge is one of the most popular mountain shelters in Chamonix due to its stunning views over the adjacent lake. Usually open in summer from mid-June to the end of September, the hut remains shut as the dispute between the management and the the property management company continues. The lease between the Jean-Charles Sage and real estate agents SCI Mountain des Chéserys expired in 2017. A Bonneville judge ruled in favour of the real estate agent on May 17, but the refuge remains closed pending the outcome of an appeal from Sage.
The refuge usually sleeps up to 40 people in dormitories split between two buildings. The easy access and stunning location of this refuge make it very popular with hikers, and it's closure is being felt by visitors to the Chamonix Valley this summer. Lac Blanc is a high altitude mountain lake accessed by a number of different hiking trails. The calm clear waters create the perfect mirror image of Mont Blanc and the snowy peaks on the opposite side of the valley.
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