Nestled in the heart of the Alps, Avoriaz 1800 is a one-of-a-kind destination that enchants visitors with its car-free charm and magical setting. Here, you can step into your skis right outside your accommodation, thanks to the ever-present snow blanketing the entire village. This seamless ski-in, ski-out experience creates an unparalleled and enchanting atmosphere. As night falls, the streets lined with twinkling fir trees transform evening strolls into a timeless, magical escape.
For skiing enthusiasts, Avoriaz offers an array of slopes tailored to all levels.
From the gentle runs of the Proclou sector to the challenging terrains of Chavanette or Fornet, there’s something for everyone. Thrill-seekers will relish the legendary Swiss Wall, one of Europe’s most daunting slopes, accessible via the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil ski area. Neighboring Morzine serves as the perfect gateway to this transnational ski paradise, offering unmatched diversity across its slopes.
By the numbers…
- 78 km of marked slopes ⛷️
- 40 restaurants across the resort 🫕
- 100 horses 🐎
- 4 snowparks 🏂
Avoriaz is also a haven for freestyle enthusiasts, boasting four distinct snowparks, each with its own personality to cater to beginners and expert riders alike. But the excitement doesn’t stop when the lifts close! A vibrant après-ski scene awaits, featuring a variety of restaurants, cozy bars, unique shops, and evening entertainment that fills the village with warmth and festive energy. For families, Avoriaz is a true paradise, offering a safe and magical environment where children can create lasting memories.
A station steeped in history……
What makes Avoriaz so successful is a series of utterly bold and visionary projects."
Since its founding in 1966, Avoriaz 1800 has stood out as a pioneering car-free resort, unlike any other in the world. Built on a plateau once owned by the noble Rovorée family of the Chablais region, the land was later acquired by the commune of Morzine. Over time, the name evolved from “Rovorée” to “Avorée,” then “Avoréaz,” and finally, Avoriaz—its modern name (where the “z” remains silent).
Jean Vuarnet and His Vision
On 22 February 1960, a local from Morzine called Jean Vuarnet was crowned downhill skiing World Champion and Olympic Champion in Squaw Valley. He is well-known for inventing the ‘tuck’ skiing position, which resulted from never-before-seen studies carried out on aerodynamics. At the age of 27, the athlete retired from professional skiing. Jean Vuarnet came back to Morzine and set about making his dream come true, with the perseverance of a visionary who was willing to move mountains. During the prosperous post-World War Two era, it seemed insane to want to create a resort that was such a far cry from the others – a car-free resort that placed skiing at the very core of the project. But it was this concept that was so different to the traditional resorts that, 50 years later, turned Avoriaz 1800 into a global reference where this vision, the ideal location and a strong set of principles had really come together to produce the best possible outcome. The project came to life thanks to funding from Morzine local council and various financial contributors. The first ski lifts were put into operation, but soon after, Jean Vuarnet ran out of funds and found himself on the brink of bankruptcy. Luckily, this was when he met Gérard Brémond, who brought to the table both his knowledge of the real-estate sector and the funding needed to make the necessary investments that would keep the dream of Avoriaz 1800 alive. In March 1963, Prodains cable car was officially opened.
A daring architectural approach: Jacques Labro
In 1961, Jacques Labro was awarded the Prix de Rome. He was 27 years old when he met Gérard Brémond. A little later, he met Jean-Jacques Orzoni and Jean-Marc Roques – with whom he created the Atelier d’Architecture d’Avoriaz (AAA) – and came up with a concept for a new resort, designing the perfect recreational destination from scratch: 209,000 square metres for the construction of a car-free resort, in line with Jean Vuarnet’s initial plans. The team of architects moved away from any of the usual geometrical lines, and instead built residences, chalets and facilities that blended in with the natural surroundings, and intertwined them with skiable paths. Each building has its own unique contour and volume, mimicking the curves and volumes of the natural landscape in an expressionist approach that only further showcases the surrounding natural environment. To Jacques Labro, this living architecture follows the ‘organic’ architectural movement, in line with the ideas of Franck Lloyd Wright and Aval Aalto. It goes against urban rigour, the neo-rusticism and other pre-existing designs and models built during the same period. 50 years later, Avoriaz is still a modern urban, architectural creation and even now, remains ahead of its time. The buildings are placed to fit the natural contours so that the surrounding mountains are in view and residents can enjoy both the views and optimal sun exposure.
The resort of Avoriaz 1800 is in Haute-Savoie in the northern Alps, in the Chablais mountains more specifically. At an elevation of 1,800 m, the resort provides breathtaking views across Aulps Valley as well as access to one of the biggest cross-border ski areas in the world, the Portes du Soleil.
