STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

The French side of the Mont-Cenis, leading down to the lovely village of Lanslebourg, is stunningly beautiful... Breathtaking views, green slopes covered in forests, wonderful skies and lovely villages...

UP TO THE MONT-CENIS

Not only is the Mont-Cenis a magical place... the drive up to its 2,00 m of magnificent beauty is wonderful too!! The green slopes leading to the mountain pass and lake are a mountain lover's dream come true. The soft light of early Autumn makes them quite simply dreamy...

MONT-CENIS IN SEPTEMBER

The mountain pass and lake of the Mont Cenis show all their amazing beauty on bright mid-September days! A feast of beauty, bright colors and dreamy landscapes at 2,000 m height...

LATE SUMMER MAGIC IN THE ALPS

Although August and early September have been a fairly cloudy time in the mountains, I have enjoyed precious moments, dreamy atmospheres, stunning sceneries, breathtaking landscapes and wonderful images of peace and beauty! I hope you enjoy a little tour with me :)

- Between Mont-Cenis and Lanslebourg -

- Between Mont-Cenis and Lanslebourg -

- Between Mont-Cenis and Lanslebourg -

- Between Mont-Cenis and Lanslebourg -

- Between Mont-Cenis and Lanslebourg -

- Mont-Cenis Lake -

- Colle del Lys -

- Colle del Lys -

- Exilles -

- Exilles -

- Mount Rocciamelone -

- Mont-Cenis Lake -

- Mont-Cenis Lake -

JULY SKIES

- Rhodes -

- Rhodes -

- Alps -

- Alps -

MAY SKIES

Back in the Alps...

And first skies in Rhodes...

MONT-CENIS IN MAY

My first outing of the season up to the Mont-Cenis!

The mountain pass, which is located at 2,000 m height on the Italian-French border, is a minor Alpine pass and it's closed in the winter... which at this altitude means until mid-May! The landscape is breathtaking, and the change from winter to Alpine spring is still on its way... The Mont-Cenis is a mountain pass and lake connecting Italy and France, and it is one of the Alpine passes which are closed in the winter. The street has just been opened (usually it gets opened around mid-May, which involves "cutting" the snow which still blocks the shady parts of the road, and cleaning the road from stones and rocks which have rolled down during the long winter months), and spring is just slowly starting to show at this high altitude. The light is amazing, and wild crocus is in bloom, forming lovely white and purple patches. Soon lots of Alpine flowers in the most beautiful colors will cover these Alpine meadows, and Alpine cows will be grazing the high-altitude pastures. It is fascinating to see spring just starting up here, while in the valleys and plains it is almost summer.

I compared the pictures with last year's at the same time of May, and there was more snow last year...

A welcome stop for a hot herbal tea at an Alpine café with a breathtaking view...

The weather can change quickly and dramatically in the mountains... A sudden snow storm!