Meeting with Nicolas Carrier, professor of medieval history

Monks and peasants of Chamonix in the Middle Ages

The Chamonix Valley often evokes images of wild, unspoiled nature. However, it has been inhabited, exploited, and organized for thousands of years.
During this conference at PlanB Living Chamonix, immerse yourself in the medieval history of the valley to understand how monks and peasants shaped the landscapes we know today.

Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse settled in Chamonix. They organized the clearing of land, the exploitation of mountain pastures, and encouraged the establishment of farming communities. It was during this period that the valley's iconic villages and mountain pastures were born.

Drawing on exceptionally rich medieval archives, this lecture sheds light on a unique mountain society, marked by a fragile balance between monastic power and peasant freedoms, and by the emergence of a local political life specific to Alpine territories.

The conference will be moderated by Nicolas Carrier, professor of medieval history at Lyon 3 University and renowned specialist in Alpine mountain societies.

Practical information:
📅 Monday, February 16, 2026
🕖 7:00 p.m.
⏳ Duration: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
📍 PlanB Living Chamonix

A cultural event to better understand the history of Chamonix, its landscapes, and its communities, long before the rise of alpine tourism.