The ski lifts are now closed until the snow makes a comeback, and the village is quieter than it was over the summer, but autumn is the perfect time to come and see the destination from another angle, at a more easy-going pace. Take the time to wander around the village and admire the charming features of the narrow streets there, visit the heritage sites or take this opportunity to try some different types of activities. We’ve compiled a list for you to make your life easier…
Sights to see in and around Morzine
Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Church in the historic centre of the village is worth a visit to see its onion dome, rippled Baroque-style façade and Neoclassical interior. If you decide to venture inside this church, you’ll come across frescoes by Laurent Baud, a painter from Morzine.
La Battante, close to the Dérêches Park entrance and opposite the pool complex is where a historic sash sawmill has been recreated to show visitors what it once looked like when it was producing beams and planks in the 19th century using only the driving force of the water. It is open all year round and free to visit.
Morzine cheese dairy is one of the resort’s must-sees as it showcases a local speciality. Every Wednesday morning from 9am (groups must make prior bookings), the cheese dairy is open to the public and there are guided tours. You can also choose to go on a self-guided tour every day between 3pm and 7pm. The dairy is open all year round and free to visit.
For any information and to make a booking, call +33 (0)4 50 79 12 39.
Morzine Market is a weekly favourite for the locals of Morzine and you’ll soon see why. The local producers and stallholders will all be waiting for you at the square in front of the post office every Wednesday morning.
If you miss Morzine market, you could go to the one in Les Gets the next day, or to Saint-Jean d’Aulps on Saturday mornings. The Musée de la Musique Mécanique in Les Gets. Head out of Morzine to the neighbouring resort of Les Gets where you’ll find the Musée de la Musique Mécanique. This museum boasts an exceptional collection of ‘limonaire’ organs, music boxes, mechanical pianos, etc. It is open every day from 2.30pm to 6.30pm. Bookings are compulsory for groups (morning visits can be arranged upon request). Guided tours last approximately 1 hr 15. In October, guided tours are organised between 3pm and 5pm.
Prices: Building A: Musée de la Musique Mécanique (guided tour):
Adults €10.00, Children €6.00
Building B: automated figures + gramophones + fairground (self-guided visit):
Adults €7.00, Children €4.00
Combo ticket for the 2 buildings:
Adults €14.00 – Children €9.00.
Family ticket: €38.00 – valid for 2 adults and 2 to 4 children for the whole venue.
Visitors can also come and visit the automatic philharmonic organ at Les Gets church for €3 per person. Groups of 15 people minimum are welcome with a prior booking.
For any information and to make a booking, call +33 (0)4 50 79 85 75.
The Domaine de Découverte de la Vallée d’Aulps is also an unmissable venue in the region. In the same location as the ancient abbey, the daily life of the monks has been recreated. Surrounded by the ruins of the abbey, visitors can find out more about what led to the abbey’s destruction, the history of Aulps Valley and the art of botany.
Open from Sunday to Friday, from 2pm to 6.30pm. Â
Groups are welcome in the mornings with a prior booking.
Prices: Adults €7, Children (6-16 years old) €3.50 and for groups of adults: €5.60, groups of children: €2.80.
For any information and to make a booking, call +33 (0)4 50 04 52 63.
Back to Morzine and to the Library opposite the church. Â It is open every day (Except Thursdays and Sundays) from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm. The collection features over 17,000 items including fiction, detective novels, biographies, comics, CDs, audio books, magazines, books in English and so much more. To find out more, call +33 (0)4 50 75 93 58.
Go for a walk around Dérêches Park or choose from the many activities there
Dérêches Park is a lush-green area in the centre of the village of Morzine, on the banks of the river Dranse. There is a 4.5 km walk all around this car-free and housing-free park and it’s a great place to come and explore with children, go for a run or to make use of the various facilities.
At the centre of Dérêches Park is Morzine’s horse riding centre : Claire Pérot and her team offer lessons, courses, rides, treks, and the right animal will be provided depending on your age and level of ability.
To find out more, call +33 (0)6 32 61 41 98 or +33 (0)4 50 75 14 40
If you’d prefer to do something sporty but keep both feet firmly on the ground, you could go Orienteering. There is a marked-out orienteering trail in Dérêches Park, with 20 control points dotted around the park. Official maps are available at the Tourist Office and the Palais des Sports. You can also go for a run in Dérêches Park and stop off to use the various apparatus that are part of the fitness trail along the way. And if you’ve still got some energy left over, nothing is stopping you from enjoying a game of Tennis. At this time of year, some of the tennis courts are open and available to use.
Other walks departing from Morzine
The Sentier du Renard (fox trail)
By car from the Tourist Office, head towards the town hall and then go right at the church towards the Valley of La Manche. At the cemetery roundabout, follow the signs to ‘Téléphérique de Nyon’ (Nyon cable car). When you reach the car park for Nyon cable car, either go right and walk 15 minutes to Nyon waterfall and the ‘Cascade Aventure’ adventure park, or cross the car park and walk along the footpath to Mines d’Or lake.
From the car park to the waterfall, it takes around 15 min, and to Mines d’Or lake takes around 2.5 hours on a fairly flat path.
The tour of Montriond lake
By car from the Tourist Office, head towards the town hall. When you reach the church, go left behind the town hall and follow signs to Montriond. At Montriond church, go right towards the lake. When you reach the lake (5 km from Morzine), you can choose to park your car on either side of the lake. It takes around 45 min to walk around the lake, on a flat gravel track.
If you’d like to extend your walk, there’s a footpath to the village of Albertans from the far side of the lake that takes around 20 min, and there’s another footpath to Ardent waterfall that takes around 10 min, and you can either go back via the road or the way you came.
Maps available at the Tourist Office
Make sure you find out where and when hunters will be out in the area (Chasseco application)
Looking for some sports activities?
The mild and sunny days in October are ideal for outdoor activities.<br>Why not take this opportunity to try:
Paragliding
Many of the paragliding centres are still open in autumn and can take you on introductory sessions and all sorts of other flights.
- ABC paragliding school at Portes du Soleil:
Call to make a booking on +33 (0)4 50 75 76 39 +33 (0)6 12 55 51 31 - Aéro-Bi paragliding:
Call to make a booking on +33 (0)6 26 35 48 06 - Airéole:
Call to make a booking on +33 (0)6 59 29 79 00
or +33 (0)6 07 63 16 25 (Albert)
or +33 (0)6 60 38 71 01 (Olivier) - Évolution 2:
Call to make a booking on +33 (0)4 50 74 02 18 | +33 (0)6 87 33 19 54
Road cycling is an easy sport to do at this time of year. You just need to make sure you have warm clothing (so you don’t get cold when cycling back down the mountain passes). The mild temperatures can be an advantage and help you ride up the Joux Plane and Joux Verte mountain passes and the steep sections between Morzine and Avoriaz more easily.
MTB
The ski lifts may be closed but that’s not a reason to put your MTB away in the back of the garage. There’s nothing stopping you from riding along the tracks and trails around the village, and why not take this opportunity to improve your cross-country technique.
Updated on: 01/10/21 subject to modifications that the Tourist Office has not been made aware of.
Thematics
