Morzine & the Portes du Soleil

Morzine and Avoriaz make up the Portes du Soleil area which spans across two countries, France and Switzerland. This is a unique area is a good rival to other popular French resorts that make up the Three Valleys and Paradiski. At only approximately 50 miles from Geneva, Morzine couldn’t be more accessible for the British tourist and as such, its popularity has increased dramatically over the past few years and is quickly becoming a favourite resort of many. Morzine has an active summer and winter programme to suit most appetites so it’s true to say that Morzine is an ideal place to start for those keen to explore the vast area on offer.

Morzine itself is a busy little Alpine town with a lively spirit. Steeped in tradition, traditional wooden chalets, slate roofs and stone foundations ensure that the village retains is character and Savoyard charm. In the summer, Morzine offers mountain bikers some of the world’s best mountain biking terrain, boasting up to 380kms of marked trails with varying degrees of technical skill required. With such variety on offer, Morzine has been proud to be a venue for the Tour de France and host to Mountain biking championships. Some other summer activities include : paragliding, golfing, fishing, canyoning and tennis. For more information on these and other activities available see our Air activities, or Outoor activities and Indoor activities sections. ... see "Morzine : The Local Area" for more

Morzine 1970 Photo Credit: www.amorzine.com

‘Morzine’, from the Germanic word 'morgen' meaning 'rising sun', was once a rural market town. Made up of several small villages, the inhabitants lived off the agricultural produce of the land. The mining of the slate quarries provided further revenue, especially during the winter months, however, it was often necessary for the men of the village to search for other work in Geneva, as stone-cutters, or Paris as waiters and chimney sweeps.

The development of the leisure industry transformed the economy of this commune. In the 1920s, the opening of the Grand Hotel under the ownership of François Baud, was the first establishment built to welcome tourists. These summer visitors provided an additional income to Morzine which previously earned its living from farming and slate mining - an industry which was already in decline. ... see "Morzine : From Past to Present" for more

Morzine's nightlife is almost as exhausting as its mountain pursuits! With a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafés to keep you well fed and watered there is also a plentiful array of opportunties for a bit of après or late-night venues for a spot of clubbing. The countless terraces ensure that you can always find a sunny spot to relax in... ... see "Morzine Food & Drink" for more

For anyone that spends time in the mountains, be it summer or winter, the weather is a constant topic of conversation. And it is easy to understand why, as a change in the weather can impact so dramatically on your day. Should I take a coat? How many layers should I wear? Am I going to burn? Is it going to rain? These are questions we ask ourselves daily and normally the answer is based on a lucky guess, or perhaps on judgment gained from experience and/or the weather forecast. However, by acquiring some knowledge of local weather patterns and understanding how and why systems develop, along with a few bits of weather terminology, you can certainly reduce that element of luck, and learn to make a more educated decision on your days activity and clothing requirements with the information at your disposal. ... see "The Alpine Climate" for more

Here is collection of general resort knowledge compiled from years of responding to email enquiries, getting ourselves lost, finding ourselves, late-night bar conversations, your feedback, plus translations of French brochures. We have put this resource together to help you out when you are planning a trip to the resort. Updating this section is a never-ending task so if we have missed anything out, or you spot that we are out of date or just plain wrong, please do let us know!

The Morzine ski App is now available on your iPhone! Everything you need to know and more about the Morzine resort on the new iPhone application. Download it here or read on for more information >>> ... see "Morznet.com iPhone App" for more