Since its creation in 1966, Avoriaz 1800 has distinguished itself from other resorts worldwide by being a 100% pedestrian resort, without cars. The plateau on which the resort is built once belonged to a notable family from Chablais, the Counts of Rovorée. Given to the municipality of Morzine, the alpine pastures took the name “Rovorée” lands, which over time evolved in pronunciation and name to “Avorée,” then “Avoréaz,” finally becoming the name we know today as Avoriaz (the “z” is not pronounced).
What makes Avoriaz so successful is a series of completely crazy projects."
Jean Vuarnet and His Vision
On February 22, 1960, a man from Morzine named Jean Vuarnet was crowned World Champion and Olympic Downhill Champion in Squaw Valley. He invented the now-famous “egg” position, a groundbreaking development in aerodynamics. At 27 years old, this athlete ended his sports career. Upon returning to Morzine, Jean Vuarnet set out to realize his dream with the determination of a visionary ready to move mountains. In the era of the “30 Glorious Years,” imagining a resort that broke away from the traditional model—one that eliminated cars and put skiing at the heart of its project—seemed crazy. Yet, this innovative model, different from traditional resorts, is what has made Avoriaz 1800 a global reference 50 years later. The alignment between vision, location, and strong principles found their perfect expression in Avoriaz. With the help of the Morzine municipality and the support of investors, the project came to life. The first ski lifts were installed, but Jean Vuarnet soon faced financial difficulties, and bankruptcy seemed near. That’s when a providential meeting with Gérard Brémond occurred. Brémond brought his expertise in real estate and provided the necessary funding to continue the dream of Avoriaz 1800. In March 1963, the Prodains cable car was inaugurated.
An Architectural Boldness: Jacques Labro
In 1961, Jacques Labro was awarded the Prix de Rome. At 27 years old, he met Gérard Brémond. Soon joined by Jean-Jacques Orzoni and Jean-Marc Roques—together forming the Avoriaz Architecture Workshop (AAA)—he designed a new, playful resort from scratch: 209,000 square meters to be built based on Jean Vuarnet’s vision of a car-free resort. The team of architects broke away from traditional geometric forms, arranging buildings, chalets, and facilities amidst a network of ski runs, adapting to the natural topography. Each building, unique in its shape and volume, blends with the natural curves of the landscape in an expressionist approach that enhances the surrounding scenery. This dynamic architecture, which Jacques Labro associated with the “organic” architectural movement—following in the footsteps of Frank Lloyd Wright and Alvar Aalto—stood in contrast to the existing or contemporary models, such as strict urban designs or the neo-rustic style. Fifty years later, Avoriaz still embodies this architectural and urbanistic modernity, remaining avant-garde. The buildings are positioned according to the terrain, optimizing views and sunlight while emphasizing the mountain environment that surrounds them.
Getting to Avoriaz
The resort of Avoriaz 1800 is located in Haute-Savoie, in the Northern Alps, specifically in the Chablais mountain range. Perched at an altitude of 1,800 meters, it offers breathtaking views of the Aulps Valley and provides access to one of the largest cross-border ski areas in the world: the Portes du Soleil.
