• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

UK Office 01509 590 046

stay@mountainmavericks.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

MOUNTAIN MAVERICKS

Independent ski & world travel experts.

MENUMENU
  • Destinations
  • Our chalet in Morzine
    • Chalet Chambertin
    • Morzine in Summer
    • Morzine in Winter
    • Travel advice
    • Corporate Bookings
  • Useful Info
    • About Us
    • News & Blog
    • FAQs
  • Contact Us

Keep it social

Follow us on social media for the latest offers, news, tips and snow reports.

December 2, 2016 by Mountain Mavericks

The Heart and Soul of Morzine

A brief history..

Morzine, a little town of a few thousand year-round residents, is nestled in a picturesque valley in the Northern French Alps. For a town that seems to be quietly tucked away from the world, it has a rich history that has seen it on both sides of the Swiss/French boarder and numerous thriving industries. In fact its namesake is derived from the Latin word ‘morgenes’ meaning border area.

Morzine is at the heart of the Portes du Soleil

A commune that sits at 1000m altitude in the Haute-Savoie, Morzine has a story that goes back way beyond its introduction to skiing in the 1930’s, believed to explain why its inhabitants are so passionate about retaining its charm and identity. Since its humble beginnings, this quaint mountain town has attracted a large international interest and is now famous as one of the best ski resorts in the world.

Starting out

Starting out as a Grange to the Cirstearcean Monestry of Saint-Jean-d’Aulps around 1181, Morzine provided an ideal location for monks to work the land, provide their communities with sustenance, and divide resources. This activity thrived in the valley for hundreds of years until the eventual independence of Saint-Jean-d’Aulps from the Monestry in 1531. The subsequent two hundred and fifty years were characterized by peaceful farming and the continued development and prosperity of the surrounding mountain villages including Morzine. By 1800 technological advances allowed the areas to successfully mine highly sought after slate, and this lucrative activity stood Morzine in good stead for the future.

As slate mining began to decline, novel summer tourism brought new industry to the area, and eventually the interest in winter past times and thrills grew as well. As skiing began to gain traction in the early 1900’s, the town focused their financial attention on tourism and this lead to the formation of the Morzine ski club in 1910 and the building of the town’s first hotel “The Grand Hotel” in the 1920’s.

More recently

1934 saw the opening of Pleney cable car, and was only the second to be constructed in the whole of France! Don’t worry – it’s had an upgrade this winter! Originally used only by hikers, eventually skiers became more daring and moved from the more gentle slopes at the bottom of the valley to the steeper, more daring slopes used today. In 1960 Jean Vuarnet, a Morzine local, won Olympic Gold at the Squaw Valley Olympics bringing pride and prestige to the little alpine town. He then went on to inspire and prompt the development of Morzine and the adjoining resort Avoriaz; later helping in the expansion of the Portes du Soleil, and eventually linking resorts all over France and Switzerland.

La Passerelle - Morzine's suspension bridge

Today

Now with an abundance of chalets and hotels, Morzine has a thriving tourism scene in both winter and summer. However, one thing Morzine’s long history has given its inhabitants is a sense of who they are. There is a pride in being a Morzinoise and this translates into a dedication to preserve and grow their town, protecting the very features and feelings that make it a firm favourite destination.

Morzine at night

Previous: Pre Season Snowfall. What it looks like in the Alps!
Next: Meet Chalet Chambertin’s Winter 2016/17 Staff!

Category iconMorzine

Want more? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Enter your email to receive the latest news and offers from Mountain Mavericks.

By subscribing, you consent to receive marketing emails from Mountain Mavericks. View our Privacy Policy for more info.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • A few little travel tips
  • Which way is the weather going to go.
  • The Lambourne family surf holiday.
  • We would like to be your personal travel consultants.
  • Bye Bye Aubergade

Categories

  • Awards (1)
  • Careers (5)
  • Chalets (18)
  • Company news (25)
  • Competitions (13)
  • Entertainment (12)
  • Events (45)
  • Family (13)
  • Food & Drink (14)
  • Morzine (10)
  • Morzine Activities (18)
  • Mountain Biking (19)
  • Offers (2)
  • Road Biking (5)
  • Skiing (11)
  • Snowboarding (16)
  • Special Offers (13)
  • Summer in Morzine (38)
  • Team (13)
  • Tips (15)
  • Travel Advice (4)
  • Uncategorized (9)
  • Weather & Snow (16)
  • Winter (45)
  • Winter in Morzine (49)

Follow Mountain Mavericks

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Check Availability and Book

Contact us with some basic details and see what we can do for you and your holiday.

Footer

Contact Mountain Mavericks

Tailored Holiday Experiences

01509 590044

holiday@mountainmavericks.com

Mountain Mavericks Ltd
The Old Parsonage
Wincanton
Somerset
BA9 8DJ
Registered in England # 04991072

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Discover

  • Our Restaurants
  • Morzine in Winter
  • Morzine in Summer
  • About Us

Useful Links

  • News & Blog
  • Careers
  • How to get to Morzine
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

Enter your email to receive the latest news and offers from Mountain Mavericks. View our Privacy Policy for more info.

Copyright © 2023 Holly Lewis Design. All rights reserved. Return to top