This name of celtic origins supposedly means “fast running, violent, water”.
Morzine’s river Dranse takes its source at the French-Swiss border, under the Bostan Pass, in the “Terres Maudites“ area (which translates to “cursed land”). It flows alongside the road through the centre of the valley for 30kms.
In the past, its floods could devastate the whole valley and many of its bridges. To secure housing, stone walls were erected on the banks crossing the village. This mountain torrent however was also an extremely precious source of life to the area’s activity, supplying water to the many mills (flour, oil, trip hammer, beater mills, sawmills etc.).
In the foreground, you’ll see a wooden building: the blacksmith’s shop. In the background you can see the village of La Salle with its few houses, and the hillside, deforested & bare, reserved for pastures.
Morzine’s river Dranse takes its source at the French-Swiss border, under the Bostan Pass, in the “Terres Maudites“ area (which translates to “cursed land”). It flows alongside the road through the centre of the valley for 30kms.
In the past, its floods could devastate the whole valley and many of its bridges. To secure housing, stone walls were erected on the banks crossing the village. This mountain torrent however was also an extremely precious source of life to the area’s activity, supplying water to the many mills (flour, oil, trip hammer, beater mills, sawmills etc.).
In the foreground, you’ll see a wooden building: the blacksmith’s shop. In the background you can see the village of La Salle with its few houses, and the hillside, deforested & bare, reserved for pastures.
Source: Histoire et Patrimoine Association, Morzine
Heritage Tour every Thursday at 10am during high season
Heritage Tour every Thursday at 10am during high season