Visiting Morzine
Morzine is a mountain village and ski resort in the Alpes, tucked into the Vallée d'Aulps in the Haute-Savoie region. Today, the village sits at the heart of the Portes du Soleil, a massive cross-border ski network spanning over 650 kilometers of runs. Originally, this was an isolated settlement that survived by mining slate between the 18th and 20th centuries. You can still see this legacy today, as those same slates cover the roofs of many historic Morzine homes. The town is ringed by high peaks, specifically the Hauts-Forts range to the east and the Col de Joux Plane to the south.
From mountain village to ski resort
Winter tourism took off in Morzine with the 1934 opening of the téléphérique du Pleney (Pleney cable car). It quickly drew the attention of early vacationers, and the first hotels began to appear. By the 1960s, the ski area expanded with the construction of the Nyon lifts, which were later linked to the pistes du Pleney et des Gets. Local hero and Olympic downhill ski champion Jean Vuarnet then had the vision to build a high-altitude resort, Avoriaz, which was connected to Morzine via the Super-Morzine cable car.
This expansion gradually opened the valley to broader tourism. Beyond the standard ski runs, you can opt for backcountry ski touring or snowshoeing in wilder areas like the lac gelé de Montriond (frozen Lake Montriond) or the massif du Chablais. In summer, the snow melts to reveal a network of mountain bike trails and hiking paths. If you are traveling with family, try the Balade du Renard, an educational trail full of information about local flora and fauna that leads to the lac des Mines d'Or.
Off the beaten path in Morzine
Morzine has managed to retain its village soul, best seen at the market held every Wednesday morning on the place de la Poste. You can dive into local heritage by visiting the Fruitière de Morzine, a cheese dairy that demonstrates how they produce Tomme d'Abondance, a regional specialty. In the summer, you can also tour an authentic, two-century-old slate mine.
The local history is tied to the former abbaye Sainte-Marie d'Aulps, a major medieval pilgrimage site that Morzine was long attached to. Today, the two-hectare site has been given new life; you can tour the ruins and see parts of the abbey that have been reconstructed.
For more adventurous activities in Morzine, try canyoning along the Nyon waterfall, hit the summer luge tracks, or test your skills with mountaineering and via ferrata climbing routes.
When to go
Morzine is a year-round destination, with your best time to visit depending entirely on whether you are looking for deep powder or mountain trails.
How to get there
You can reach Morzine by car via the A40 motorway. If you are traveling by train, stop at the Cluses or Thonon-les-Bains station and take a shuttle bus into town. Once you arrive, a system of free shuttles helps you get around the resort, and the bus Balad'Aulps runs to various tourist sites throughout the valley.
