Built on a shelf-like plateau on the mountainside above the town of Morzine, Avoriaz is perhaps one of the most distinctive Alpine ski resorts in France. The resort is located in the Portes du Soleil area on the French-Swiss border and is best known for its innovative architecture, which was remarkably forward thinking in the late 1960s when it was built. Chalets in Avoriaz boast an innovative and futuristic angular design built from red cedar wood, which was intended to blend in with the mountains that surround the resort.
Avoriaz was France’s first car-free resort, and it remains entirely traffic-free, with visitors and residents to the town alike travelling either on foot, skis or by horse-drawn sleigh. Our investment guide Avoriaz offers a comprehensive overview of the resort for those thinking of buying property in Avoriaz.
Living in Avoriaz and things to do
As a resort, Avoriaz is well located, being on the main lift circuit of the Portes du Soleil. It boasts over 75km of pistes, which are all easily accessible via 17 chairlifts, 2 cable cars and 14 drag lifts.
With many activities in and around town, Avoriaz is a popular destination for younger crowds, families and couples alike. Having over 40 bars in the area, Après ski spots are plentiful, but there are also a range of other outdoor activities to keep people of all ages busy both on and off the slopes.
For those looking for a break from the slopes, or feeling slightly less adventurous, there are a variety of other activities to keep you occupied. Popular scenic tours can be taken on dog sledges or horse-drawn sleigh trips, which are perfect for taking in the beautiful alpine scenery. These are fantastic way to look around the town, and a great idea for a day off the slopes.
Another fascinating spot is the Igloo Village, where igloos are nestled into the mountainside. Visitors can walk around and observe the structures or go and have a drink from the igloo bar. Avoriaz even has its own open-air ice rink right in the centre of the town, which can be the perfect and low-cost destination for an afternoon off the slopes. An option for families with children is the Aquariaz water park, which is heated to replicate tropical temperatures. Kids can enjoy the flumes, rapids and water slides, whilst the adults go and relax in the spa and wellness centre.
Amongst the ski and snowboarding shops in Avoriaz, there are many souvenir shops, fashion boutiques, and exquisite patisserie’s, and food outlets serving local cuisine - including traditional Savoyard dishes; featuring cured and seasoned meats, cream and cheese dishes such as raclette and fondue.
Avoriaz even has its very own international film festival, which mainly celebrates horror and sci-fi movies.
Avoriaz Snow and Weather Report
Avoriaz is a popular town for Winter sports tourism due to its perfect snow conditions, with its long ski-season lasting between December and April. Typically, very sunny and bright, there is no doubt that it is the perfect destination for winter sports. Its high altitude means that there is an average of 8m of snowfall each season, and an average snow depth of 340cm.
Due to many of the pistes being at extremely high-altitude, the snow remains of excellent high quality right up until the end of April, and the conditions are perfect for both beginners and more experienced skiers and snowboarders. For updated snow and weather reports, take a look at our Avoriaz resort guide here.
Investment potential In Avoriaz
Now is perhaps the best time to consider buying a property in Avoriaz, with over €147.9 million set to be spent on lift and piste development, in Avoriaz itself, as well as the immediate surrounding areas and connecting ski resorts. Investment in the area and the surrounding infrastructure is ongoing, with new lifts and piste developments to improve transport systems to be built over the next few years.
One of the most major projects as part of this development is the Project Morzine Avoriaz – a €35 million enterprise is perhaps the biggest development currently underway in the area and due to be completed in 2021 with the aim of developing more efficient connections major skiing areas. This project will see new transport systems including high speed lifts providing a fast connection across the valley between both Morzine and Avoriaz. Other improvements include 600 new parking spaces within a five-minute walk of the Pleney lift, new fibre optic broadband cables installed throughout the resort in 2018, and a new Folie Douce bar – hosting the renowned Après ski parties.
With its unusual architecture, perfect conditions for winter sports enthusiasts, and variety of options for eating out, drinking, and absorbing the beautiful alpine scenery, Avoriaz is an ideal destination to invest in property.
Transport to Avoriaz
Though it is traffic free, the resort is readily accessible via train services to the close-by stations of Thonon-les-Bains and Cluses. The Geneva Cointrin International Airport is the closest airport to Avoriaz, and the resort can be reached from the airport via taxi or minibus.
With its unusual architecture, perfect conditions for winter sports enthusiasts, and variety of options for eating out, drinking, and absorbing the beautiful alpine scenery, Avoriaz is an ideal destination to invest in property.