Visiting Morzine
Morzine is an Alpine village and ski resort nestled in the Vallée d'Aulps region of Haute-Savoie. Today, the village sits right at the heart of the Portes du Soleil, a massive cross-border ski network with over 650 kilometers of runs stretching between France and Switzerland. Originally, it was an isolated mountain community that survived by mining slate between the 18th and 20th centuries, and you can still spot those traditional slate shingles capping the older local houses. Towering peaks ring the town, specifically the Hauts-Forts to the east and the Col de Joux Plane to the south.
From Mountain Village to Ski Resort
Winter tourism kicked off here in 1934 with the construction of the Pleney cable car. It quickly caught the eye of early vacationers, leading to the rise of the town's first hotels. By the 1960s, the ski area expanded as the Nyon lifts went up, eventually linking into the Pleney and Les Gets slopes. Local Olympic downhill champion Jean Vuarnet then dreamed up the high-altitude resort of Avoriaz, which connects directly to Morzine via the Super-Morzine cable car.
That expansion gradually opened the valley to broader tourism. Beyond the downhill runs, you can head out on backcountry ski tours or snowshoe treks through wilder terrain like the frozen Lake Montriond or the Chablais massif. When summer arrives, those snowfields transform into downhill mountain biking trails and hiking paths. If you are traveling with family, check out the Sentier du Renard, an educational trail packed with facts about local flora and fauna that leads you all the way to the Lake Mines d'Or.
Off the Beaten Path in Morzine
Morzine has managed to hold onto its authentic village feel, which you can see at the Wednesday morning market on place de la Poste. Local heritage shines through stops like the Fruitière de Morzine, a working dairy where you can watch the production steps for Abondance, the valley's signature AOP cheese. In the summer months, you can even tour an authentic, centuries-old slate quarry right in town.
The local landscape also includes the ruins of the former Sainte-Marie d'Aulps Abbey, a major medieval pilgrimage site that Morzine was historically tied to. Today, the two-hectare property is getting a second life, allowing visitors to explore the excavated ruins and even some reconstructed areas.
Other outdoor activities worth trying around Morzine include canyoning down the Nyon waterfall, riding the summer alpine coasters, or tackling local mountaineering and via ferrata routes.
When to Go
Morzine works just as well for a summer getaway as it does for a winter ski trip, depending on what you are looking for.
How to Get There
You can drive to Morzine via the A40 highway. If you are taking the train, get off at the Cluses station or Thonon-les-Bains, then hop on a shuttle bus the rest of the way. Once you arrive, a network of free local shuttles gets you around the resort easily, while the Balad'Aulps bus connects the valley's various sights and trailheads.
