Ski Morzine

History

Morzine is originally a working farming community, rich in heritage, rather than purely a ski resort. It is for this reason that Morzine is full of tradition, artisans and history as well as being a modern lively ski resort. Its history stretches back a long way through to its origins in farming and slate mining.

1090: Monks come to St Jean d'Aulps and take control of the area.

1531: Morzine is granted independence from the Monks.

1725: Construction of the old bridge by the church.

1734: The start of the commercial exploitation of slate in Morzine.

However slate was probably extracted from the cliff face, which dominates the valley of Prodains, as far back as the 15th century and used as roof covering for the chalets and lofts.

1800: slate makes its appearance.

It was not until around 1800 that slate was split into sheets and formed into regular sized tiles. This invention widened the prospects of employment in the region. The first slate quarry provided the material used to clad the church and the bourgeois houses known as "chateaux", in Morzine. The slate extracted from the region is of a very high quality: resistant to crumbling and frost, it brings together quality and the beauty of its delicately veined grey-blue hues.

Grey gold, the village’s first step towards development

This occupation provided the families of Morzine with a necessary supplement to their incomes and allowed for a reduction in seasonal migration. At the end of the 19th century, 250 men were employed during the winter at the slate quarries. These quarries supplied the markets of Thonon, Thônes and Taninges with over 2 million slates transported by cart. Some mines go as deep as 350m into the cliff face.

Slate mines today

Machinery and mining techniques have remained practically unchanged, yet five mines are still open today, supplying materials for roof covering, tiling and for souvenirs. Franck Buet, a young slate worker, offers weekly guided tours, to explain the history of each process and demonstrate the techniques used in working with slate.

1862: the road opens.

The road between Morzine and Thonon was opened in 1862 allowing access to Morzine and its mountains, farming and slate mining.

1910: Creation of the ski club of Morzine

1920: the start of tourism with the building of the “Grand Hotel”

It is sometimes whispered that Morzine only became a tourist attraction as a result of the influence of some diplomats at that time based in Geneva, who fell under the spell of this village. The “Grand Hotel”, which was the first establishment built to welcome tourists in the 1920s and its proprietor François Baud took the village into a new era. All the summer visitors were like a breath of fresh air to a population who earned its modest living from farming and slate mining - an industry which was even then in decline.

1921: the war memorial is built by the church.

1934: the launching of the Pléney cable car

Soon, ever more intrepid tourists were to let the winter season win them over. The thick coat of snow was a good excuse for fun and games and the still little-known sensation of sliding whether in a sleigh, or on cross-country or downhill skis became popular. Not forgetting ski-jumping! In 1934, Morzine opened the Pléney cable car with great pomp and ceremony. A return journey in it was an excursion in itself and the view was a bonus! As for skiing, it was restricted to the reassuring village pastures.

1960: Jean Vuarnet wins the Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley.

1960: the creation of Avoriaz

It was in 1960 that Jean Vuarnet became director of the resort, and set about turning his dream of turning Avoriaz into a ski resort into reality. The building of this "little Savoyard Colorado" with its mimetic architecture, helped create the necessary push to create the Portes du Soleil, thanks also to the close collaboration between Champéry and Les Crosets….and give Morzine-Avoriaz its double identity, allying tradition with modernism.

1961: the telepherique at Nyon is built.

1963: Avoriaz telepherique is built.

1973: 1st fantastic film festival at Avoriaz.

1974: the skiing world cup is held in Morzine & Avoriaz.

1992: Super Morzine telecabine opened.

Morzine today

From this nice story, Morzine has kept the basic precepts of a warm welcome to visitors and controlled development. Today's resort has kept the appearance of a village from another time: wooden facades, carved balconies and slate-covered roofs... and local slate at that! Morzine offers all that you would expect from a bustling modern lively ski resort while holding onto the charm and hospitality of the traditional Savoyard village.

For further details on the history of Morzine see www.amorzine.com. Thanks to Jean-Christophe Richard for the photos and information.