Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France

© Simon Schöpf/Getty Image

Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France

Picture yourself at the highest peak in the Alps, where the air is crisp and the views are breathtaking. Mont Blanc, seen in this image, is the highest mountain in Western Europe at 4,808.72 metres. This mountain keeps its summit snow-covered year-round. It has been a rite of passage for mountaineers since the first recorded ascent in 1786. If scaling the peak isn't your thing, don't worry—the Aiguille du Midi cable car takes you up to 3,842 metres, almost to the top. While skiing and snowboarding on Mont Blanc's slopes is the go-to in winter, summer turns the area into a hiking and trail-running haven.

Moreover, the towering presence of Mont Blanc has left an indelible mark on literature, most notably on Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein.' In 1816, an 18-year-old Shelley penned the tale of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. A pivotal scene in the novel takes place on a glacier near Mont Blanc, where Victor is confronted by his monstrous creation.