Megeve

Area Profile

Megève was one of the earliest ski resorts to be created - a French answer to St Moritz. Based on a thirteenth century village its pedestrianised centre still has cobbled streets. Today it is a unique place in many ways - differing from almost all other French ski centres in its history, ambience and altitude. It is almost the antithesis of the high altitude concrete rectangle resort for which France is infamous but, none-the-less, it gives skiers access to one of the world's largest lift-linked ski areas, and a lift pass that includes neighbouring Chamonix. Equally significant, the range of shopping, restaurants, facilities and organised activities available surpasses all other French destination resorts.

Megève has a long history. Two hundred years ago it was comparatively large, with 2,400 people, mostly involved in agriculture. This population had dropped to 1750 at the start of the first World War. However, everything changed when Baroness de Rothschild picked the village, which had a few years earlier opened a tourist office and begun winter tourism, to be changed in to a 'French St Moritz'. Such was the influence of the Baroness that, following the construction of the resort's fourth hotel, the Hotel Palace Mont d'Arbois, and her persuading French railways to open a special line from Paris to neighbouring St Gervais, the royal families of Europe began arriving in the resort by the early 1920s.

The famous 'Ski Club de Paris', managed by Austrian instructors, opened in 1932 and at Rochebrune, where the area's skiing actually began, opened a cablecar in 1933. The resort was undisputed as 'most chic' in France during the '60s and '70s but lost ground in the '80s when the French super areas came into their own and Courchevel became the place to be (although it lacks the history, character and ambience of Megève).

Today, with skiing no longer the be all and end all of winter holidays, Megève is back in renaissance.

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Lodging Profile

Slopeside accomodations are available with total of 36,509 beds. 48 additional hotels are located nearby.

Services Profile

There are 37 restaurants on the mountain and 91 more located nearby; cuisines range from Creperies, Gastronomique, Pizzeria, Savoyard, and Cambodian. Lessons are available from 4 years to adult. There are over 200 shops, several banks, a post office, a few petrol stations, and 3 laundrettes. Child care services are available for ages 1-10 years old.

Area Recreation Profile

Megève is one of 12 classic Alpine resorts have joined forces to establish the ‘Best of the Alps’ group. They represent the most prestigious winter sports and summer holiday destinations in the Big Five of Europe's Alpine countries.

Snowboarding Profile

Two snow parks and a halfpipe are available for snowboarding.

Megeve Contact Information

Megève

Maison des Freres-BP 24

Megeve, FR-FR F 74120  

Phone: 33 450 212728

megeve@megeve.com

Megeve Web site