Description

Avoriaz represents a break-through in modern resort design. While ski centres in the 1960s were being 'thrown up' or developing in areas of great natural beauty in France, Italy, Switzerland and North America, Avoriaz was arguably the first to consider the importance of architectural design. Two aspects of design also - firstly the layout plan, secondly the architecture. Built on a cliff edge above the already successful French resort of Morzine, Avoriaz still seems 'space-aged' and unique 40 years on. Sitting on the border with Switzerland, at a snowsure altitude, car-free and in one of the largest lift-linked ski areas in the world, it has a lot going for it. From a great distance it can be seen standing out against the white mountains but, because its style is so important, it appears more as a sculpture than a sprawling resort. Nearer to it, the effect changes to tall angular buildings that shine gold in the sunlight and right up close you realise that this isn't an especially hi-tec construction, the buildings just being clad in natural local red cedar wooden slates with plenty of glass, giving it a rather warm feel. The buildings are supposed to blend in to their natural environment, and in a way they do, although it should be stressed that the resort is well above the treeline on a vast snowy plateau. The architects created a large square in the centre of the resort and put a children's tobogganing slope in the middle. At one side of the square there is an open-air ice rink, on another a festival hall. The resort is designed so that all accommodation is slopeside with access over snow only. Avoriaz has its own TV and radio channels broadcasting events information and snow reports in several languages including English.

Travelling to Avoriaz

Avoriaz is one of the closest resorts to Geneva, only 80km (50 miles) away, the next closest major airport is Lyon, 200km (125 miles) distant. The smaller airport at Annecy, from which there are daily links to Paris, is 100km (63 miles) away. There are no rail stations very near, the closest two are both about 45km (28 miles) at Thonon Les Bains and Cluses. There is a good bus service to and from these run by the SAT bus company. The two stations are 4 hours from Paris by TGV. The taxi business is also very prolific in the area with about a dozen companies based in the resort. The access road to the resort is always kept clear but chains should always be used if snow is lying, unless your car has studded snow tyres. Overtaking on the access road is regarded as very foolish! There are around 800 covered car parking places and 1600 uncovered spaces at the entry to the resort. The cost is about double for covered parking. Visitors are met by hostesses on arrival at the resort and shown to a reception centre, where luggage can be unloaded and family members get hot drinks whilst the car is then parked. After that it's a choice of whether to use the shuttle service or rent a hand pulled sledge to tow your baggage over to your accommodation. Because there are no roads within Avoriaz you can make use of a horse drawn sleigh service that operates until 7pm daily, there's then an evening shuttle service between 7pm and 8am.

Weather

Conditions for Avoriaz, FR at 7:00 am CEST

Current Conditions:
Unknown, 8 C

Forecast:
Sat - Sunny. High: 19 Low: 6
Sun - Sunny. High: 21 Low: 8

Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather

(provided by The Weather Channel)

Snow Report

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Updated, about 21 hours ago

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Database and compilation (c) Snow24 plc 2009-11, Database Right: Snow24 plc 2009-11.