Loading...
Morzine - How it all began...
The earliest records in the Morzine area come from around 1090 when monks came to the area of St Jean d'Aulps. The monks gained control of the area until the early 16th century when the region was granted independence. The town was and is to this day, a working farm community.
A Modest Mining Town
In the early 18th century, slate became an important resources for the area and commercial exploitation began in 1734. It was not until this time period that slate had been discovered as an ideal roofing material. The towns growth sparked and employment prospects expanded in the area with it's discovery of this highly durable "grey gold." There are still five mines open to this day in Morzine and techniques have remained more or less unchanged. Take a look at the older chalets in the area and you are sure to find numerous slate roofs.Header...
Tourism Begins
The first tourists started visiting in 1920 with the building of the "Grand Hotel." Summer visitors started flocking to the area pumping life into this modest town. The ski club of Morzine was formed in the early 19th century and the first cable car, Pléney, was built in 1934. Tourists slowly started to recognize the joys of winter sports and the growth of winter tourism has hasn't stopped since.
Jean Vuarnet
Vuarnet's family moved to Morzine in 1934, when he was 1 year old. In 1960, he won the Olympic gold medal in Squaw Valley. The people of Morzine then asked Vuarnet to became the director of the Avoriaz ski resort and he set to realizing his goal of building a "little Savoyard Colorado." After the creation of Avoriaz, Vuarnet and a few ski enthusiasts came up with the idea of borderless skiing and the Portes du Soleil.
The ski lift of Nyon was built in 1961 and two years later the Avoriaz lift is constructed. In 1992, Super Morzine lift was built and the enhancement of the resort continues to this day!