St Jean d’Aulps

Part of the Portes du Soleil domaine, located only 5km from Morzine, this beautiful commune in the Haute Savoie offers skiers the area “La Grande Terche”. St Jean D’Aulps is One of the most historic villages of the area with the 13th century abbey d’Aulps which can be visited throughout summer and has a medieval festival every August.

In the village of St Jean d’Aulps, there are a few restaurants, bars and ski shops.

As the area is small only a few restaurants are on hand; le petit coq – a traditional, quaint French restaurant at a decent price, Bar national – serving the best pizzas within a 50km radius; L’Amandier – a charming restaurant serving exquisite cuisine accompanied with a good varied wine list

Winter

A free navette brings people from the village to La Grande Terche and Espace Roc d’Enfer ski area which may be limited in numbers of chair lifts and marked pistes however, these pistes offer a variety of ski runs and a large amount of off-piste terrain which tends to remain unskied for longer than most resorts!

There is also another shuttle bus from the tourist office to Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz for EUR1 per person per way regardless to which resort you get off at.

Summer

The area boasts over 200km of treks and walks ranging from simple one hour strolls along the river dranse to 6 hour treks around Roc d’Enfer – ‘Hell’s Rock’. These paths take you through the Vallee d’Aulps via mountain tops, alpine pastures, lakes, local villages and abounding flora and fauna.

History

(Timline last 1000 years or so) of St Jean D’Aulps / Morzine & Avoriaz

1090: Monks come to St Jean d’Aulps and take control of the area.

1531: Morzine is granted independence from the Monks.

1725: Construction of the old bridge by the church.

1734: The start of the commercial exploitation of slate in Morzine.

1800: slate makes its appearance.

1862: The road between Morzine and Thonon was opened in 1862 cutting through St Jean and allowing access to Morzine and its mountains, farming and slate mining.

1910: Creation of the ski club

1920: the start of tourism with the building of the “Grand Hotel”

1921: the war memorial is built by the church.

1934: the launching of the Pléney cable car.

1960: Jean Vuarnet wins the Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley.

1960: the creation of Avoriaz

1961: the telepherique at Nyon is built.

1963: Avoriaz telepherique is built.

1973: 1st fantastic film festival at Avoriaz.

1974: the skiing world cup is held in Morzine & Avoriaz.

1992: Super Morzine telecabine opened.