Morzine

Area Profile

A village with a history dating back to long before Morzine was first named in documents in 1180 AD, today Morzine is a large and pleasant resort in the midst of one of the world's largest ski areas, the Portes du Soleil, and with excellent off-slope facilities. Although the village may have existed for at least a thousand years, tourism only arrived rather more recently when the first hotel, the Grand, opened in 1925.

The first brochure stated that Morzine was located ...high above the damp mists, where the purifying breeze blows through the firs. Early visitors included many families of diplomats living in the French colonies. Winter tourism was not long behind initial summer business and in 1934 the opening of the Pleney cable-car made getting up the mountain to go downhill easy. François Baud, the pioneer behind the Grand, went so far as to build a ski jump behind his hotel, to employ Austrian ski instructors and to bring in the earliest tracked Renault vehicles to entice winter visitors. He also introduced the sport of Ski Jöring - being towed on skis behind a horse - to the village.

After Pleney, the Pointe de Nyon was introduced as a second ski area and Jean Vuarnet won Olympic Gold at Squaw Valley, helping to underline further Morzine's growing pre-eminence on the winter-sports world map. The still futuristic resort of Avoriaz opened high above the village in 1966 and when Super Morzine opened in the 1980s a lift link between Avoriaz and Morzine was created.

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Lodging Profile

Slopeside accomodations are available among a total of 17,000 beds. 67 additional hotels located nearby.

Services Profile

21 mountain restaurants and 27 more located nearby; cuisines featuring French, Italian, and Savoyard. Also located nearby are 100 shops, 5 banks, a post office, 4 petrol stations, and 2 laundrettes. Child care services available for 2 months to 4 years old. The ski school offers lessons for ages 3 years old to adults. Nearest town is Thonon-Les-Bains, 30km away.

Snowboarding Profile

Snow park and half pipe are available for snowboarding.