Huge pine forests, a superb lake, a wild river, and a strong resemblance to Canada… You are in fact in Morillon, at the heart of Giffre Valley and the Grand Massif ski area.

Morillon: a village, a ski resort!

The authentic village of Morillon still has a lively farming tradition today. Come and see for yourself the easy-going Alpine lifestyle. Whether you are an active person or looking for a place to relax and unwind, the natural environment here is perfect for all tastes… Come and feast your eyes!

Morillon has the discreet charm of a resort-village with a great family-friendly atmosphere and huge ski area linked to the Grand Massif. Throughout the village you’ll find traditional houses covered in local wood, chalet-style residences, all built around the ancient Church of Saint Christophe. This ancient church dates back to the 16th century and is particularly characteristic thanks to its beautiful square bell tower, with a dome on the top. Morillon is divided into several hamlets. The town is in fact made up of the ancient village as well as the different hamlets of “Les Champs” and “Le Verney“, at an altitude of 700 metres, and the Morillon 1100 ski resort, which was created another 400 metres higher.

Morillon: an authentic village…

This resort-village is easy to access, making it ideal for Alpine and Nordic activities during your family skiing holiday: in the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region, a stone’s throw from Mont-Blanc, 1 hour’s drive away from Chamonix, Geneva and Annecy

Morillon is the ideal destination, in any season, with no less than 265 km of continuous ski slopes between Morillon, Samoëns, Les Carroz, Flaine and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.

In Morillon you’ll find traditional houses covered in local wood, chalet-style residences, all built around the historical Church of Saint Christophe in the centre of the village. This ancient church dates back to the 16th century, and is particularly characteristic thanks to its beautiful square bell tower, with a dome shape on top. 

Morillon is divided into several hamlets. The town is in fact made up of the ancient village as well as the different hamlets of “Les Champs” and “Le Verney“, at an altitude of 700 metres, and the Morillon 1100 ski resort, which was created another 400 metres higher.

Morillon Village
Morillon Village

Morillon, a “Grand Massif” resort in the winter…

2018-morillon-elue-2nde-meilleures-stations-de-ski-alpes-2018-par-snowplaza-awards-

Morillon was named the 2nd best ski resort in the Alps in 2017 and 2018 by website Snowplaza.fr!

See the ranking >>

The Morillon Grand Massif ski resort is located at an altitude of between 680m and 2,500 m.

In the winter, the Morillon 1100 resort is at the foot of the slopes, with chalet residences perfectly blended into the wooded setting of the Plateau des Esserts, with all shops and amenities nearby for a stress-free holiday. With 265 km of slopes, 142 slopes and 67 ski lifts for easy access to the Flaine, Morillon, Samoëns, Sixt and Carroz resorts, the Grand Massif has everything you could possibly need for a successful skiing holiday! 

Whether you are looking for walks through the forest, or skiing across open spaces at high altitude, not-to-mention the challenging black runs or off-piste skiing, the experts are particularly familiar with the wide variety of terrain on offer here.  

At the heart of Morillon village, at an altitude of 700 metres, holidaymakers and locals alike can take advantage of the cable car that will quickly take you up to Morillon 1100. The artificial snow covering means you can ski all the way back down, throughout the whole season!

… and a mountain of activities in the summer!

In the summer, come to the leisure complex at Lac Bleu lake!

This little slice of heaven is only 500 metres from the centre of the village, and is ideal for families and anyone looking for an original place to relax and unwind. It can be easily accessed thanks to the free car parks nearby.

There is a sandy beach and shaded grassy areas around the lake, and a section of water reserved exclusively for swimming. Children and adults can swim in complete safety, under the watchful eye of the on-duty lifeguard. 

There is a wide range of activities available at the Lac Bleu lake: tree-top adventure courses, horseback riding, trampolines, children’s play areas, inflatable structures, off-road Segway, electric skateboards, Pumptrack, picnic areas, petanque pits, volleyball courts, fishing, kayaking, concerts and entertainment, bar-restaurant, etc. 

Fishing enthusiasts will not be disappointed: here you can fish trout for free: Holidaymakers staying in Morillon are granted access to the shores of Lac Bleu lake… 

Why Morillon?

The science of geographical names has taught us that in French the root “mor” (that can also be found as mour, mur, etc.) has something to do with stones, rocks: In French, Morillon therefore means “village built onto rocky land”. It’s logical when you look back at the history: a landslide separated a huge section of the left-hand embankment of the Giffre, and the crumbling rocks can clearly be seen from the Plain, just under the village as it is today. The same applies to other towns of the mountains such as Montriond (between Morzine and Avoriaz) and Morion (above Courchevel), reminding us that in mountainous terrain, stone is a permanent fixture found not only in the place names, but also dictating the daily life of the people here. 
Extract from the book (in French) “Morillon, Petite chronique des jours” by Jean-François Tanghe. 

Marie Claude Perret, Savoie Mont Blanc Heritage Guide tells us about Morillon…

Presentation of Morillon and Verchaix in the Giffre Valley
by Marie Claude Perret, Savoie Mont Blanc Heritage Guide.
A name taken from a disaster. Agropastoral practices in the Giffre Valley
by Marie Claude Perret, Savoie Mont Blanc Heritage Guide.
Traditional architecture in the Giffre Valley
by Marie Claude Perret, Savoie Mont Blanc Heritage Guide.
Builders and stone cutters in the Giffre Valley
by Marie Claude Perret, Savoie Mont Blanc Heritage Guide.
The village of Verchaix. Winter sports and the champions
by Marie Claude Perret, Savoie Mont Blanc Heritage Guide.
Morillon, a broad view showing the Frêtes du Grenier and Mont Buet

Morillon, a popular resort for families and sports enthusiasts 

Source

The must-sees

of Morillon