Marie Paradis

Marie Paradis (about 1778 to 1839) was the first woman to climb Mont Blanc. She was a poor maidservant who lived in Chamonix, at that time part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. On 14 July 1808, in the company of the renowned mountain guide Jacques Balmat, she became the first woman to climb Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest mountain. The party camped on the Grands Mulets, and during the final ascent Paradis became fatigued and was assisted by her guides. On the summit she was in such poor condition that she had difficulty breathing, was unable to speak and could not see.