Closing

 This cycle of the Olympics, called Milano-Cortina, was staged on quite a

wide geographical region. Indeed, Milan and Cortina are a 4.5 hour drive apart.

                                                                             

Milan is the economic capital of Italy, with over 6.1 million people in the Greater Metropolitan

Area. 

Verona - where the closing ceremony will be held tomorrow - is a Unesco designated site 

of Historical Importance. It is a very romantic city that has kept its historical character, 

and was home to Romeo and Juliette, which later inspired Shakespeare.

                                                                                      

Cortina d'Ampezzo (court + open space) is a village in the Alps, with both summer and winter tourism:

                                                                                    

As for the Alps (Whites), it is a chain of mountains that straddles many European countries:

                                                                                      

The 2030 Olympics will move to the French Alps...

                                                                               

“Mont Blanc, from Sallanches”, 1802 ... Tate Museum

A Turner painting showing Mont-Blanc - the highest peak of the Alps at 4,808 meters - in 

the background.

Copilot:

Could you explain to me how Mont-Blanc sits in France, Italy and Switzerland. Where are North and South on the Turner painting?

Here’s a clear, grounded explanation, Louise — and I’ll anchor it in both geography and what we know from your open tab on Sallanches (Turner’s vantage point) .

🏔️ How Mont Blanc Sits Across France, Italy, and Switzerland

Mont Blanc is not a single peak sitting neatly inside one country. It is the center of a massif whose ridges and glaciers extend into three countries:

1. France

The summit itself lies on the French–Italian border, but the main access valley (Chamonix) is entirely in France.

The north and northwest faces drop into French territory.

Most classic views (including Turner’s) show Mont Blanc from the French side.

2. Italy

The southern and southeastern faces descend into the Aosta Valley (Courmayeur).

The Italian side is steeper, more dramatic, and heavily glaciated.

The border runs along the ridge, so Italy shares the summit line.

3. Switzerland

Switzerland does not touch the summit, but the northeastern part of the Mont Blanc massif extends into Swiss territory.

The Swiss sector includes peaks like the Aiguille d’Argentière and the Trient area.

This is why the Tour du Mont Blanc passes through all three countries even though the summit is only on the France–Italy border. 

🎨 Where Are North and South in Turner’s Mont Blanc Painting?

Your active tab is Sallanches — and that’s crucial. Turner’s famous 1802 view of Mont Blanc is taken from Sallanches, which lies northwest of the mountain. 

From that position:

Orientation in Turner’s View

North is roughly behind the viewer (or slightly to the left).

South is toward the mountain, in the center-right distance.

Turner is looking southeast toward the Mont Blanc massif.

What this means visually:

The French foreground (Sallanches valley) occupies the lower part of the painting.

The Mont Blanc dome rises in the distance, slightly right of center.

The Italian side is hidden behind the summit dome — you never see Italy from Sallanches.

Switzerland is entirely out of frame, far to the left (northeast).

So Turner’s painting is a French-side, northwest‑to‑southeast perspective.

If you want, I can also:

sketch a verbal map of the massif’s layout,

explain why the France–Italy border on Mont Blanc is historically disputed,

or describe how Turner’s 1802 Alpine trip shaped his later atmospheric style.

Just tell me where you’d like to go next.

                                                                               

...

Will the next Olympics be near Mont-Blanc?

Yes — the next Winter Olympics will be held very close to Mont‑Blanc, Louise.

Here’s the clear picture based on the latest verified information:

🏔️ 2030 Winter Olympics: Very Near Mont‑Blanc

The 2030 Winter Olympics will take place in the French Alps, with venue clusters in:

Haute‑Savoie

Savoie

Briançon

Nice

Haute‑Savoie and Savoie are the regions that surround the Mont‑Blanc massif, including towns like Chamonix, Megève, and Albertville.

This is confirmed in multiple sources describing the Games as being “spread across south‑east France with venue clusters in Nice, Briançon, Savoie and Haut‑Savoie.” 

The official description also states that the 2030 Games will be held in the French Alps region, which is precisely the broader mountain system that contains Mont‑Blanc. 

📍 How close is this to Mont‑Blanc?

Very close:

Haute‑Savoie is the department where Chamonix sits — the historic gateway to Mont‑Blanc.

Savoie borders the Mont‑Blanc massif directly.

Many events will occur within tens of kilometres of the mountain.

So while the summit itself is not a competition venue, the Games will be held in the same mountain region, essentially at the foot of Mont‑Blanc.

🧭 In short

Yes — the 2030 Winter Olympics will be held right in the Mont‑Blanc region, making them the closest Olympics to the mountain since Chamonix 1924.

If you want, I can map out:

which specific venues lie closest to Mont‑Blanc,

how far each cluster is from Chamonix,

or how the 2030 layout compares to the 1924 Chamonix Games.   

                                                                                           

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