Flaine
Encyclopedia
Flaine is the name of a ski area in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps
, and is a part of the linked Grand Massif domain. It is in the territory of the communes
of Magland
and Arâches
. Flaine is linked to Samoëns
, Morillon
, Les Carroz and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
, with 267 km of pistes in total. It featured the first 8-seater high speed chairlift
, called Les Grands Vans, and the first snow cannons to be installed in Europe.
Eric and Sylvie Boissonnas entrusted Flaine’s design to Marcel Breuer
(1902–1981), the eminent Bauhaus
architect whose structural designs are well-known around the world. These include The "Palais de l'Unesco"
in Paris
, the Whitney Museum, The Atlanta-Fulton Central Branch Library, Flushing Meadows
Sports Park in New York
, and the Bijenkorf in Rotterdam
. Breuer is also known for his innovative use of materials (i.e. tubular steel) in creating his iconic furniture designs. With one of his signature pieces being the Wassily Chair
.
Right from the design stage, Eric Boissonnas and Marcel Breuer were careful not to disturb the natural surroundings and integrate the resort into the receiving mountain. In other words, the general layout blends in with the environment's contours, and the different levels which make up the resort can not be seen from one to the other. The result is a feeling of privacy and tranquillity.
The master plan; the ski runs designed by champion Emile Allais
; the technical network for electric cables; gondola
lift stations on the same level as the ski runs; even the colour of concrete reminiscent of the surrounding rocks:- everything was inspired by the ambition to find a balance between functionality and integration.
they threatened to block the building of the access road to the resort until they received adequate compensation. The result was a three year delay and huge cost overruns, and led to greater state involvement in French ski resort
development. By the time the resort was opened on the 17 January 1969 it had probably cost Boissonnas the equivalent of around $250 million from his personal fortune at 2005 prices.
The site is divided into two areas which are joined by two free lifts. The upper area, Flaine Forêt, at an altitude of 1700 m, consists a number of apartment buildings named after constellations; the Eric et Sylvie Boissonnas Auditorium shops, offices and restaurants. The lower area, Flaine Forum, at an altitude of 1600 m, has more restaurants, shops bars and accommodation.
More apartments like Montsoleil are going in just above the Hameau next to the golf course. Due for completion in 2011 it will be called "La Refuge de Golf" (The Golf Refuge).
, and 30 km from the A40 motorway (l'Autoroute Blanche). It is close to resorts Les Houches
, Les Contamines, large ski area Chamonix
as well as the Portes du Soleil
region — notably resorts Les Gets
and Morzine
. Trips to Italy via the Mont Blanc Tunnel
to Courmayeur
are also possible.
Bus services are available several times a day to Tanninges in the Giffre Valley (where resorts Morillon
and Samoëns
are situated) where buses to Geneva
and Chamonix
can be accessed. The bus service is run by Transdev Alpbus and details of the bus services from Flaine can be obtained from http://www.altibus.com/
The most notable runs in Flaine include Styx (Black); le Diamant Noir (black); Serpentine (blue/red); Fred (red); Tourmaline (blue) and Mephisto (red). The liaisons ski runs which take you out of Flaine, take you to Samöens, Morillon and Les Carroz via the run Dolomie (blue) and to the smaller ski resort Sixt via the long blue, Les Cascades, which has a spectacular view of the Ger Valley.
In Les Carroz, Morrilion, and Samőens classic runs include Marvel; a fabulously long green that goes through the forest, Sairon; a long blue with many jumps and banks on the side of the piste, Lou Darbes; a medium length blue run that is downhill all the way — an excellent run for 'bombing' down, and Aigle Noir, a steep, difficult black run.
The predominantly north-facing runs are very reliable: package companies offering "snow guarantees" often import punters from other French resorts when their pistes have lost the amount of sufficient snow that can be skied on. Flaine was the first resort to feature artificial snow making in Europe from 1973.
Interestingly, in each different grade of run (green, blue, red, & black) there is a theme in the Flaine bowl. For example most of the blue runs are named after metals/jewels (e.g. Serpentine, Turquoise, Dolomie, Cristal, Tourmaline, Emeraude), nearly all the reds are diabollically named (e.g. Faust, Mephisto, Belzebuth, Lucifer) and most black runs after stars (e.g. Diamant Noir, Agate, Styx). Most green runs are named after trees (e.g. Meleze, Pin, Epicea). This only occurs in the Flaine valley though; the other resorts' runs are named separately. However the same named to feature in the different resorts. For example "Combe
" which means valley in English is a popular name because of the nature many runs leading into the valleys. The same with Arete
.
In Flaine Forum, the Nursery Slopes are served by a small chairlift (Le Pre) which is excellent for beginners due to the fact that it doesn't go far above the snow. They are also interesting as they go down from the resort centre, rather than down to the resort. There is also a short green run which runs to the left of the lift.
(known in French as a "lapiaz"). From there you can walk to the Refuge de Platé
which is fully open from mid-June to mid-September. The route takes the walker past deep ravines, rocks and fissures which contain moss campion
, gentians and many other stunningly beautiful flowers.
In the other direction, also on GR96, walkers can go past the Lac de Flaine
, climb to the Col de Cou, down to the Col de la Frête (1347 m) and then to the tiny hamlet of La Colonnaz from here there is a relatively flat broad track to Les Carroz. The whole route should take about 3½ hours.
Other walks that can be taken are to the Belvêdère d’Anjon where good views over the valley can be had.
Football on certain nights of the week. Le White Pub also shows sporting events but these tend to be more of a Winter Sports style. The bar is mainly used by attracting package tour groups on 'benders'
"The Flying Dutchman" is another bar in Flaine Forêt. As the name suggests, it has a particular attraction to Dutch skiers in Flaine. The bar is a popular place for skiers living in the Forêt to have a drink after skiing, as it is very close to the ski slopes.
Also popular is the more upmarket "Perdrix Noir" i.e. Black Grouse — run by the husband-and-wife partnership which used to manage the White Grouse. This pub attracts a mixed crowd of French and British. The Ski Club of Great Britain
representative of Flaine meets here every evening with locals and skiers.
The bowling alley bar is increasingly popular because of its late opening hours.
French Alps
The French Alps are those portions of the Alps mountain range which stand within France, located in the Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions....
, and is a part of the linked Grand Massif domain. It is in the territory of the communes
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Magland
Magland
Magland is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
and Arâches
Arâches-la-Frasse
Arâches-la-Frasse is commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Situated in the northern French Alps, the commune sits on a large sunny plateau overlooking the Arve Valley southeast of the town of Cluses....
. Flaine is linked to Samoëns
Samoëns
Samoëns is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village of Samoëns is located in the Vallée du Giffre in the French Alps and carries the designation of a "ville fleurie" distinguishing it as one of the most beautiful towns in France...
, Morillon
Morillon
Morillon is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is a popular summer and winter vacation destination.-Ski:...
, Les Carroz and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval is a municipality in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.- Geography :The town ranges in altitude from , and three-quarters of its area are part of a Natural Reserve and thus completely uninhabited...
, with 267 km of pistes in total. It featured the first 8-seater high speed chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
, called Les Grands Vans, and the first snow cannons to be installed in Europe.
An encounter between Man, Mountain and Art
The site was discovered in 1959 by the geophysicist Eric Boissonnas and the Swiss architect Gérard Chervaz, who went on to succeed in their bid to create a fine example of urban development, architecture and design, where short-term profitability would be second to aesthetics and care of the environment.Eric and Sylvie Boissonnas entrusted Flaine’s design to Marcel Breuer
Marcel Breuer
Marcel Lajos Breuer , was a Hungarian-born modernist, architect and furniture designer of Jewish descent. One of the masters of Modernism, Breuer displayed interest in modular construction and simple forms.- Life and work :Known to his friends and associates as Lajkó, Breuer studied and taught at...
(1902–1981), the eminent Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
architect whose structural designs are well-known around the world. These include The "Palais de l'Unesco"
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the Whitney Museum, The Atlanta-Fulton Central Branch Library, Flushing Meadows
Flushing Meadows
Flushing Meadows is an American short film by Larry Jordan, with director Joseph Cornell. The film is 8 minutes long, in color, 16mm, and silent....
Sports Park in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and the Bijenkorf in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Breuer is also known for his innovative use of materials (i.e. tubular steel) in creating his iconic furniture designs. With one of his signature pieces being the Wassily Chair
Wassily Chair
The Wassily Chair, also known as the Model B3 chair, was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925-1926 while he was the head of the cabinet-making workshop at the Bauhaus, in Dessau, Germany. Despite popular belief, the chair was not designed for the non-objective painter Wassily Kandinsky, who was...
.
Functionality and integration
The master plan; the ski runs designed by champion Emile Allais
Émile Allais
Émile Allais is a former champion alpine ski racer from France; he won all three events at the 1937 world championships in Chamonix and the gold in the combined in 1938...
; the technical network for electric cables; gondola
Gondola
The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian Lagoon. For centuries gondolas were the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in...
lift stations on the same level as the ski runs; even the colour of concrete reminiscent of the surrounding rocks:- everything was inspired by the ambition to find a balance between functionality and integration.
Construction
The construction of the resort was not without difficulty. Chappis and Pradelle left after Breuer joined the team, Boissonnas fell out with the government official in charge of planning France's winter sports industry and when local landowners found out that Boissonnas was a billionaireBillionaire
A billionaire, in countries that use the short scale number naming system, is a person who has a net worth of at least one billion units of a given currency, usually the United States dollar, Euro, or Pound sterling. Forbes magazine updates a complete list of U.S. dollar billionaires around the...
they threatened to block the building of the access road to the resort until they received adequate compensation. The result was a three year delay and huge cost overruns, and led to greater state involvement in French ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
development. By the time the resort was opened on the 17 January 1969 it had probably cost Boissonnas the equivalent of around $250 million from his personal fortune at 2005 prices.
The site is divided into two areas which are joined by two free lifts. The upper area, Flaine Forêt, at an altitude of 1700 m, consists a number of apartment buildings named after constellations; the Eric et Sylvie Boissonnas Auditorium shops, offices and restaurants. The lower area, Flaine Forum, at an altitude of 1600 m, has more restaurants, shops bars and accommodation.
New developments
Hameau de Flaine is just outside the main resort and in between this and Flaine is "Flaine Montsoleil", a new development which has the same 'ski-in, ski-out' feel as the main resort but constructed in a more traditional alpine style.More apartments like Montsoleil are going in just above the Hameau next to the golf course. Due for completion in 2011 it will be called "La Refuge de Golf" (The Golf Refuge).
Location
Flaine is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Geneva airport, approximately 3 hours drive from LyonLyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, and 30 km from the A40 motorway (l'Autoroute Blanche). It is close to resorts Les Houches
Les Houches
Les Houches is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Overview:It is a ski-resort, and is located 6 kilometres from Chamonix with a ski domain which extends from an altitude of 950 metres up to 1900 metres...
, Les Contamines, large ski area Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
as well as the Portes du Soleil
Portes du Soleil
Les Portes du Soleil is a major skisports destination in the northern French alps encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland...
region — notably resorts Les Gets
Les Gets
Les Gets is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village's first single person chair lift was opened in 1938 with the first chair lift on Mont Chery in 1954.-Geography:...
and Morzine
Morzine
Morzine is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France with panoramic mountain views, modern ski facilities and hotels and restaurants. The ski resort of Avoriaz is located on the territory of the commune...
. Trips to Italy via the Mont Blanc Tunnel
Mont Blanc Tunnel
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a road tunnel in the Alps under the Mont Blanc mountain, linking Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France , and Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy . It is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes, particularly for Italy, which relies on the tunnel for transporting as much as...
to Courmayeur
Courmayeur
Courmayeur is an Italian town and comune in the autonomous region of Aosta Valley, in northern Italy. It is located at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in western Europe, in the Graian Alps range, and is crossed by the Dora Baltea...
are also possible.
Bus services are available several times a day to Tanninges in the Giffre Valley (where resorts Morillon
Morillon
Morillon is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is a popular summer and winter vacation destination.-Ski:...
and Samoëns
Samoëns
Samoëns is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village of Samoëns is located in the Vallée du Giffre in the French Alps and carries the designation of a "ville fleurie" distinguishing it as one of the most beautiful towns in France...
are situated) where buses to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
can be accessed. The bus service is run by Transdev Alpbus and details of the bus services from Flaine can be obtained from http://www.altibus.com/
Ski terrain
There is skiing for most in Flaine, as the resort enjoys a particular reputation as being all rounded.The most notable runs in Flaine include Styx (Black); le Diamant Noir (black); Serpentine (blue/red); Fred (red); Tourmaline (blue) and Mephisto (red). The liaisons ski runs which take you out of Flaine, take you to Samöens, Morillon and Les Carroz via the run Dolomie (blue) and to the smaller ski resort Sixt via the long blue, Les Cascades, which has a spectacular view of the Ger Valley.
In Les Carroz, Morrilion, and Samőens classic runs include Marvel; a fabulously long green that goes through the forest, Sairon; a long blue with many jumps and banks on the side of the piste, Lou Darbes; a medium length blue run that is downhill all the way — an excellent run for 'bombing' down, and Aigle Noir, a steep, difficult black run.
The predominantly north-facing runs are very reliable: package companies offering "snow guarantees" often import punters from other French resorts when their pistes have lost the amount of sufficient snow that can be skied on. Flaine was the first resort to feature artificial snow making in Europe from 1973.
Interestingly, in each different grade of run (green, blue, red, & black) there is a theme in the Flaine bowl. For example most of the blue runs are named after metals/jewels (e.g. Serpentine, Turquoise, Dolomie, Cristal, Tourmaline, Emeraude), nearly all the reds are diabollically named (e.g. Faust, Mephisto, Belzebuth, Lucifer) and most black runs after stars (e.g. Diamant Noir, Agate, Styx). Most green runs are named after trees (e.g. Meleze, Pin, Epicea). This only occurs in the Flaine valley though; the other resorts' runs are named separately. However the same named to feature in the different resorts. For example "Combe
Combe
-English place names:* Combe, Berkshire* Combe, Buckfastleigh, Devon* Combe, Yealmpton, Devon* Combe, Herefordshire* Combe, Oxfordshire* Combe, Somerset-Places in England with combe as one word in part of their name:Cumbria* Black CombeDevon...
" which means valley in English is a popular name because of the nature many runs leading into the valleys. The same with Arete
Arete
Areté is the term meaning "virtue" or "excellence", from Greek ἈρετήArete may also be used:*as a given name of persons or things:**Queen Arete , a character in Homer's Odyssey.***197 Arete, an asteroid....
.
In Flaine Forum, the Nursery Slopes are served by a small chairlift (Le Pre) which is excellent for beginners due to the fact that it doesn't go far above the snow. They are also interesting as they go down from the resort centre, rather than down to the resort. There is also a short green run which runs to the left of the lift.
Lift system
There are 2 free lifts (Pre and Telebenne) which link the up and lower parts of Flaine. Flaine is in the process of implementing an upgrade program to its lifts and trails called Flaine Perspectives 2006–2010. For 2006, new gondola cabins were installed on Aup De Veran, whilst the base station was renovated for 2007. For 2008, the Les Gerats lift was installed to allow better access to the new INTRAWEST village (Flaine Montsoleil). In addition the Tete Des Verns 6-person detachable chair was installed from the main base area. For 2009, Flaine aim to renovate the Telebenne, installation of a 4-person chair to replace the Bois button, to be called Aujon and the installation of a 4-person chair to link the western part of the INTRAWEST village.| Name | Type | Make | Year Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grands Vans | 8 person detachable chair | Doppelmayer | 2000 |
| Aup De Veran | 4 person gondola | renovated 2006/07 | |
| Bois | Surface lift | Poma | To be removed summer 2009 |
| Aujon | 4 person chair | ? | Due winter 2009 |
| Tete Des Verns | 6 person detachable chair | Doppelmayer | 2008 |
| La Foret | 4 person chair | ? | Due winter 2009 |
| Les Gerats | 4 person chair | Poma | 2008 |
| Veret | Surface lift | Poma | |
| Vernant | 6 person detachable chair | Poma |
Music in Flaine
Académie Internationale de Musique (Flaine International Music Academy) is held every August. Its aim is to teach music to a high level and to create some magical moments for the public by holding free concerts in the magnificent Eric et Sylvie Boissonnas Auditorium a 500-seater auditorium. ‘Musique in Flaine’ came about when a number of music teachers involved with the Bain de Musique wanted to set up a high level academy devoted to chamber music.Walking
Flaine is a good centre for summer walking. A walker can either take the GR96 or take a lift to the Les Grandes Patières (2480 m) which gives access to the Désert de Platé a fine and extremely extensive limestone pavementLimestone pavement
A limestone pavement is a natural karst landform consisting of a flat, incised surface of exposed limestone that resembles an artificial pavement. The term is mainly used in the UK where many of these landforms have developed distinctive surface patterning resembling block of paving...
(known in French as a "lapiaz"). From there you can walk to the Refuge de Platé
Refuge de Platé
Refuge de Platé is a refuge in the Alps....
which is fully open from mid-June to mid-September. The route takes the walker past deep ravines, rocks and fissures which contain moss campion
Moss campion
Silene acaulis, moss campion, is a small mountain-dwelling wildflower that is common all over the high arctic and the higher mountains of Eurasia and North America, .It is densely tufted, forming domed cushions composed of long shoots with four or five small green...
, gentians and many other stunningly beautiful flowers.
In the other direction, also on GR96, walkers can go past the Lac de Flaine
Lac de Flaine
Lac de Flaine is a lake at Flaine in Haute-Savoie, France. Its surface and depth vary seasonly. Maximum depth can reach 10.5 m in May and only 0.75 m in winter, while the surface area varies from 12 ha to 1.5 ha....
, climb to the Col de Cou, down to the Col de la Frête (1347 m) and then to the tiny hamlet of La Colonnaz from here there is a relatively flat broad track to Les Carroz. The whole route should take about 3½ hours.
Other walks that can be taken are to the Belvêdère d’Anjon where good views over the valley can be had.
Evolution and environmental issues
Flaine is situated on a geological plate of rock called the "Désert de Platé". This type of rock formation is extremely rugged and cracked looking. It is no surprise therefore that there an unusually large number of crevasses and potholes in the area, which are particularly visible in summer. Due to most of them being covered by thin layers of snow, they are not visible in the winter. This makes skiing off piste in the Flaine area fairly dangerous.Night life
The two most popular bars for British holiday-makers in Flaine are "le Diamant Noir" and "le White Pub" — known as "the White Grouse" before being bought out by a pair of French entrepreneurs in 2004. The Diamant Noir, in the Forêt, attracts a predominantly English crowd, the bar having multiple pool tables and Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Football on certain nights of the week. Le White Pub also shows sporting events but these tend to be more of a Winter Sports style. The bar is mainly used by attracting package tour groups on 'benders'
"The Flying Dutchman" is another bar in Flaine Forêt. As the name suggests, it has a particular attraction to Dutch skiers in Flaine. The bar is a popular place for skiers living in the Forêt to have a drink after skiing, as it is very close to the ski slopes.
Also popular is the more upmarket "Perdrix Noir" i.e. Black Grouse — run by the husband-and-wife partnership which used to manage the White Grouse. This pub attracts a mixed crowd of French and British. The Ski Club of Great Britain
Ski Club of Great Britain
The Ski Club of Great Britain is a recreational snow sports club, founded on May 6, 1903. It is a not-for-profit organisation. The Ski Club was until the 1960s responsible for the British racing teams.-Respect the Mountain campaign:...
representative of Flaine meets here every evening with locals and skiers.
The bowling alley bar is increasingly popular because of its late opening hours.