Portes du Soleil
Encyclopedia
Les Portes du Soleil is a major skisports destination in the northern French alps (Chablais Alps
) encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc
in France
and Lake Geneva
in Switzerland
. With more than 650 km of marked pistes and about 200 lifts in total, spread over 14 valleys and about 400 square miles (1036 square km) Portes du Soleil ranks among the two largest skiareas in the world (the other being Les Trois Vallees
). Almost all of the pistes are connected by lifts - only a few marginal towns can only be reached by the free bussservices in the area. Highest point of skiing is app. 2.400 metres and the lowest is app. 900 metres.
As with many other Alpine ski resorts, the lower slopes of the Portes du Soleil have snow-making facilities to extend the skiable season by keeping the lower slopes open during the warmer months.
also known as "Le Mur" or suffer the humiliation of taking the chairlift down. Doing the circuit one will have to leave out numerous tempting and testing options and bypass the two major areas not on the maincircuit. One is the Torgon/Abondance area witch is connected by lift to Chatel and the other is the Morzine/Les Gets area which is linked by lift to Avoriaz. Both are large and testing areas in themselves - The Morzine/Les Gets area in itself having around 150 km of marked runs.
Avoriaz
The most modern skiing and accommodation of the Portes du Soleil is the resort of Avoriaz with more than 14.000 beds and projected expansions for the 2012 season. Avoriaz is among the largest purpose-built ski destinations in the world. In spite of building reaching 15 stocks Avoriaz is unusually attractive amongst purpose-built ski resorts, featuring wooden buildings of a distinctive character and a car-free policy. Avoriaz is the self-proclaimed capital of snowboarding and has extensive offerings for snowboarders and frestyle skiers - 3 major fun parks, border cross, snow cross zones and more. Avoriaz is a hub for a number of summer-activities as well: Mountain biking, golf, paragliding, climbing and hiking to name a few. The valley of Lindaret with its impressive waterfall and extensive routes for walking or biking. There is a large number of restaurants around the area - also in the summer.
Morzine
Morzine is the largest town in the Portes du Soleil area. It is a traditional market town and the town from which the idea of a large connected ski area stems. Morzine has been one of the leading ski destinations in Europa for 80 years and the traditions of the town are still obvious. There is a very large choice of hotels and apartments in Morzine and on the surrounding mountainsides. There is quite a long walk for one of the lift stations if you live on the outskirts of the resort. There is a free bus service for the Prodains cablecar, the Ardent Cabincar and the Nyon cablecar. The Cablecars to Supermorzine (Avoriaz) and to Pleney are only a short walk from the town centre. Morzine is at an altitude of just 950 metres and bordered by woods allowing skiing in poor weather conditions. The peaks of Nyon and Chamossiere are both above the forest limit though. The immediate terrain and especially the Plenye Plateau is predominantly easy to medium skiing, which has led to the resort being especially popular with families. However more challenging slopes can be found at Avoriaz via the Prodains lifts which are only five minutes away on the local bus service. Morzine is the most northern of the French Alpine resorts and benefits from the regional microclimate between Mont Blanc and Lac Leman.
(near the border) down to centre. There are 2 main ski areas in the village, Super Châtel is reached by cabincar or chaiflift from the centre of town and from here links by lift are made to the Swiss towns of Torgon and Morgins. The base station of the larger and more challenging Linga/Pre La Joux area is reached by shuttle bus. This area forms the link between Chatel and Avoriaz and while it is dominated by red and black slopes and tremendous offpiste it is possible to ski all the way to Avoriaz on easy blue slopes but in order to get back one will have to negotiate some rather steep red slopes. Above Pre la Joux lies the small mountain village of Plaine Dranse in which almost all the houses are turned into restaurants - about 15 in all with Chez Babette and Le Marmottes being the most high-end among them. There is also a small church built into the rock at Plaine Dranse. The resort of Chatel lies at 1200 meter and the highest point of skiing is about 2.200 metres, but many of the lower slopes are north facing and do retain the snow throughout the season.
Morgins
Also part of the Portes du Soleil, but located in Switzerland, this village has kept some of its traditional charm and is not as crowded as the larger resorts in France. The resort is not a large skyscraping hotel type of place. Rather a mix of small traditional chalets owned by local Swiss families and several chalet operators. The village has a ski torch light descent each Wednesday during the winter which is open to all. The skiing is linked to Chatel on one side of the village and to Champoussin to the other side. In case of sparse snow this is where problems first occur: It is quite often necessary to go down by chairlift if you arrive from Chatel. The connection is also typically the first to close down altogether since the upper lifts are draglifts thus making it impossible to bring people down if the snowcover is lacking. The skiing in Morgins is comparatively easy.
Les Crosets
A very small resort in the Portes Du Soleil located in Switzerland. It is easily reached by skis from Morgins and Avoriaz. It allows views of the Dents Du Midi and has a large funpark. The famous Swiss wall
(an orange mogul run) can be reached from Les Crosets. There are two top stations connecting to Avoriaz - Pointe de Mossette and Chavanette. Les Crosets is build above the village of Champery. The two stations are connected by the Champéry-Plancachaux cable car. There are no pistes connecting Les Crosets to Champery. One has to either go down by cablecar og ski down to Grand Paradis and continue by car or shuttle bus.
Champery
It is a Swiss town situated at an altitude of approximately 1050 metres, nestled at the base of the Dents du Midi and the Dents Blanches, at the end of the Vallée d’Illiez. It is a 150 years old village with a substantial role in developing the skiing tourism i Switzerland. It was also among the initiating towns when the Portes du Soleil skiarea was established in the late sixties. There are no pistes leading all the way down to Champery due in part to the fact that the mountainside above the town is heavily exposed to snow. The Champéry – Planachaux cable-car (125 passengers) and the new 6-seater chairlift in Grand-Paradis are easy and fast connections into the vast system though.
Chablais Alps
The Chablais Alps are a mountain range in the western Alps. They are situated between Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc Massif. The Col des Montets separates them from the Mont Blanc Massif in the south, and the Rhône valley separates them from the Bernese Alps in the east.The Chablais Alps are...
) encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco , meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. With more than 650 km of marked pistes and about 200 lifts in total, spread over 14 valleys and about 400 square miles (1036 square km) Portes du Soleil ranks among the two largest skiareas in the world (the other being Les Trois Vallees
Les Trois Vallées
Les Trois Vallées or The Three Valleys is a ski region in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie département of France, above the town of Moûtiers and have areas within the Vanoise National Park...
). Almost all of the pistes are connected by lifts - only a few marginal towns can only be reached by the free bussservices in the area. Highest point of skiing is app. 2.400 metres and the lowest is app. 900 metres.
As with many other Alpine ski resorts, the lower slopes of the Portes du Soleil have snow-making facilities to extend the skiable season by keeping the lower slopes open during the warmer months.
Skiing
Portes du Soleil is among the largest skiareas in the world and it takes some time to get hold of the main pistemap. All resorts have detailed maps of their respective parts of the system. There is a main circuit through most of the Swiss and some of the French resorts (Chatel-Morgins-Champussin-Les Crosets/Champery-Avoriaz-Chatel)that can be skied in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The average skier or boarder will spend most of a day doing the circuit. Apart from a short busride between liftstations in Chatel and a short walk in Morgins the circuit can be skied without taking off ski or board. There are places on the circuit (espcially in Morgins) where one might experience sparse snow or even have to go down by chairlift late in the season. Finally it should be noted that skiing the ciruit counterclocwise means having to either ski the famous La ChavanetteLa Chavanette
Le Pas de Chavanette, also known as the "Mur Suisse" or "Swiss Wall", is a particularly steep and difficult piste in the Portes du Soleil ski area, on the border between France and Switzerland. It can be reached from the French resort of Avoriaz and from the Swiss towns of Les Crosets and Champéry...
also known as "Le Mur" or suffer the humiliation of taking the chairlift down. Doing the circuit one will have to leave out numerous tempting and testing options and bypass the two major areas not on the maincircuit. One is the Torgon/Abondance area witch is connected by lift to Chatel and the other is the Morzine/Les Gets area which is linked by lift to Avoriaz. Both are large and testing areas in themselves - The Morzine/Les Gets area in itself having around 150 km of marked runs.
Resorts
There are twelve resorts in the Portes du Soleil area of which seven are French and five are Swiss. Most of the resorts have grown around traditional valley villages - only Avoriaz and the very small Les Crosets and Torgon are purpose built during the mid-sixties. Morzine and Chatel are the largest of the traditional towns in the area. As a whole the skiing is low altitude compared to most French destinations. The highest skiing is just below 2.500 metres (7.500 feet) and the lowest app. 900 metres (2.700 feet). However, the area is heavily influenced by the microclimate between the Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc which generates very substantial snowfall between November and April making it possible to keep the area open to skiing typically from early December until mid to late April. Some of the lower stations close around April 1 or earlier depending on snow conditions though. AvoriazAvoriazAvoriaz is a French mountain resort in the heart of the Portes du Soleil. It is located in the territory of the commune of Morzine. It is easily accessible from either Thonon at Lake Geneva or Cluses-junction on the A40 motorway between Geneva and Chamonix...
The most modern skiing and accommodation of the Portes du Soleil is the resort of Avoriaz with more than 14.000 beds and projected expansions for the 2012 season. Avoriaz is among the largest purpose-built ski destinations in the world. In spite of building reaching 15 stocks Avoriaz is unusually attractive amongst purpose-built ski resorts, featuring wooden buildings of a distinctive character and a car-free policy. Avoriaz is the self-proclaimed capital of snowboarding and has extensive offerings for snowboarders and frestyle skiers - 3 major fun parks, border cross, snow cross zones and more. Avoriaz is a hub for a number of summer-activities as well: Mountain biking, golf, paragliding, climbing and hiking to name a few. The valley of Lindaret with its impressive waterfall and extensive routes for walking or biking. There is a large number of restaurants around the area - also in the summer. MorzineMorzineMorzine 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...
Morzine is the largest town in the Portes du Soleil area. It is a traditional market town and the town from which the idea of a large connected ski area stems. Morzine has been one of the leading ski destinations in Europa for 80 years and the traditions of the town are still obvious. There is a very large choice of hotels and apartments in Morzine and on the surrounding mountainsides. There is quite a long walk for one of the lift stations if you live on the outskirts of the resort. There is a free bus service for the Prodains cablecar, the Ardent Cabincar and the Nyon cablecar. The Cablecars to Supermorzine (Avoriaz) and to Pleney are only a short walk from the town centre. Morzine is at an altitude of just 950 metres and bordered by woods allowing skiing in poor weather conditions. The peaks of Nyon and Chamossiere are both above the forest limit though. The immediate terrain and especially the Plenye Plateau is predominantly easy to medium skiing, which has led to the resort being especially popular with families. However more challenging slopes can be found at Avoriaz via the Prodains lifts which are only five minutes away on the local bus service. Morzine is the most northern of the French Alpine resorts and benefits from the regional microclimate between Mont Blanc and Lac Leman.Châtel
A typical Savoyard village on the border with Switzerland. The village stretches from Lac de VonnesLac de Vonnes
Lac de Vonnes is an artificial lake at Châtel in Haute-Savoie, France....
(near the border) down to centre. There are 2 main ski areas in the village, Super Châtel is reached by cabincar or chaiflift from the centre of town and from here links by lift are made to the Swiss towns of Torgon and Morgins. The base station of the larger and more challenging Linga/Pre La Joux area is reached by shuttle bus. This area forms the link between Chatel and Avoriaz and while it is dominated by red and black slopes and tremendous offpiste it is possible to ski all the way to Avoriaz on easy blue slopes but in order to get back one will have to negotiate some rather steep red slopes. Above Pre la Joux lies the small mountain village of Plaine Dranse in which almost all the houses are turned into restaurants - about 15 in all with Chez Babette and Le Marmottes being the most high-end among them. There is also a small church built into the rock at Plaine Dranse. The resort of Chatel lies at 1200 meter and the highest point of skiing is about 2.200 metres, but many of the lower slopes are north facing and do retain the snow throughout the season.
MorginsMorginsMorgins is a village in the municipality of Troistorrents in the district of Monthey in the canton of Valais in southern Switzerland.It is noted for skiing and is part of the Portes du Soleil ski resort...
Also part of the Portes du Soleil, but located in Switzerland, this village has kept some of its traditional charm and is not as crowded as the larger resorts in France. The resort is not a large skyscraping hotel type of place. Rather a mix of small traditional chalets owned by local Swiss families and several chalet operators. The village has a ski torch light descent each Wednesday during the winter which is open to all. The skiing is linked to Chatel on one side of the village and to Champoussin to the other side. In case of sparse snow this is where problems first occur: It is quite often necessary to go down by chairlift if you arrive from Chatel. The connection is also typically the first to close down altogether since the upper lifts are draglifts thus making it impossible to bring people down if the snowcover is lacking. The skiing in Morgins is comparatively easy. Les CrosetsLes CrosetsrightAt , Les Crosets is the resort of highest altitude among those on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil. It is, however, one of the smallest as well. It is easily reached by skis from Chatel and Avoriaz. It has a microclimate and allows splendid views of the Dents Du Midi. The famous Swiss...
A very small resort in the Portes Du Soleil located in Switzerland. It is easily reached by skis from Morgins and Avoriaz. It allows views of the Dents Du Midi and has a large funpark. The famous Swiss wallLa Chavanette
Le Pas de Chavanette, also known as the "Mur Suisse" or "Swiss Wall", is a particularly steep and difficult piste in the Portes du Soleil ski area, on the border between France and Switzerland. It can be reached from the French resort of Avoriaz and from the Swiss towns of Les Crosets and Champéry...
(an orange mogul run) can be reached from Les Crosets. There are two top stations connecting to Avoriaz - Pointe de Mossette and Chavanette. Les Crosets is build above the village of Champery. The two stations are connected by the Champéry-Plancachaux cable car. There are no pistes connecting Les Crosets to Champery. One has to either go down by cablecar og ski down to Grand Paradis and continue by car or shuttle bus.
ChamperyChampéryChampéry is a municipality in the district of Monthey in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-History:Champéry is first mentioned in 1286 as Champery...
It is a Swiss town situated at an altitude of approximately 1050 metres, nestled at the base of the Dents du Midi and the Dents Blanches, at the end of the Vallée d’Illiez. It is a 150 years old village with a substantial role in developing the skiing tourism i Switzerland. It was also among the initiating towns when the Portes du Soleil skiarea was established in the late sixties. There are no pistes leading all the way down to Champery due in part to the fact that the mountainside above the town is heavily exposed to snow. The Champéry – Planachaux cable-car (125 passengers) and the new 6-seater chairlift in Grand-Paradis are easy and fast connections into the vast system though.Other resorts
- MontriondMontriondMontriond is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is just north of the ski resorts of Morzine and Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil ski resorts area. Just east lies Lac du Montriond, a small lake....
(France) - La Chapelle-d'AbondanceLa Chapelle-d'AbondanceLa Chapelle-d'Abondance is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
(France) - Saint-Jean-d'AulpsSaint-Jean-d'AulpsSaint-Jean-d'Aulps is a commune is the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Situated in the heart of the Vallée d'Aulps, as well as being the home to an active farming community, it is popular with holiday-makers in the Summer, for walking, and in the Winter...
(France) - Les GetsLes GetsLes 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:...
(France) - Val d'IlliezVal d'IlliezThe Val d'Illiez is a valley in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It separates the northern foothills of the Chablais Alps from the Dents du Midi.Starting from Monthey, the valley splits at Troistorrents:...
(Switzerland), Champoussin, Les CrosetsLes CrosetsrightAt , Les Crosets is the resort of highest altitude among those on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil. It is, however, one of the smallest as well. It is easily reached by skis from Chatel and Avoriaz. It has a microclimate and allows splendid views of the Dents Du Midi. The famous Swiss... - TorgonVionnazVionnaz is a municipality in the district of Monthey in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-Geography:Vionnaz has an area, , of . Of this area, or 30.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 54.7% is forested...
(Switzerland) - AbondanceAbondance, Haute-SavoieAbondance is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies in the French Alps just south of Lake Geneva on the Swiss border. The people of this commune are referred to as Abondanciers....
(France)