Photo : Yann Forget (Yann) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Morzine
In the south of the Chablais, halfway between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, Morzine in Haute-Savoie grew up where the two Dranse rivers meet, at about 1,000 metres. This village of some 3,000 inhabitants has kept its old character while adapting to tourism: slate workers, potters and cheesemakers sit alongside a sports park with a swimming pool, ice rink and riding centre.
In winter Morzine gives access to the Portes du Soleil, one of the largest international ski areas, with some 650 km of runs straddling France and Switzerland. Visitors can enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ski touring, telemark and snowboarding, as well as hiking, snowshoeing and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
In summer, activities range from forest walks to white-water sports and paragliding, and the Portes du Soleil offer about 650 km of waymarked mountain-bike routes.
