Since the first ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786 for scientific purposes, the eponymous massif has become one of the most emblematic observatories of environmental change in high mountain regions, today under climate change. Over the past decades, research has documented the profound changes affecting glaciers, permafrost environments, high-altitude infrastructures, and mountain tourism in this iconic Alpine region.

This presentation will provide an overview of ongoing and recent research in the Mont-Blanc massif, combining approaches from glaciology, geomorphology, environmental geography, tourism studies, and heritage research. Particular attention will be given to the consequences of glacier retreat and permafrost degradation on mountain infrastructures and practices. Examples include the destabilization of high-altitude mountaineering routes such as the Goûter route on Mont Blanc, the increasing vulnerability of cable-car infrastructures built on warming permafrost, and the rapid evolution of glacier tourism sites including the Mer de Glace and its visitor facilities.

The presentation will also explore how climate crisis is reshaping the relationships between societies and high mountain environments. The disappearance of glaciers is not only transforming physical landscapes but also modifying tourism economies, recreational practices, risk management strategies, and cultural representations associated with Alpine environments. Deglaciated areas are simultaneously becoming new spaces for tourism diversification, scientific observation, and geoheritage interpretation, while also revealing emerging instabilities and management challenges.

Several case studies developed within the Mont-Blanc massif will illustrate these dynamics, including the adaptation of mountain refuges to changing environmental conditions, the rerouting and seasonal management of mountaineering itineraries, and the growing role of mediation and interpretation in glacier tourism experiences. These examples highlight the need to continuously rethink observation methods, management practices, and adaptation strategies in environments characterized by rapid and ongoing change.