Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, more commonly known as Chamonix (formerly spelled Chamounix), is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. The commune’s population of around 8,900 ranks 1,089th within the country of France. Chamonix is situated at the base of the The Mont Blanc, Europe’s tallest mountain. The town is the birthplace of alpinism and has a rich history of high mountain climbing and guiding.