Built Attractions

Activity and Research 4

4. Built Attractions

There are no large built attractions in Morzine, as in most other winter sports resort. However, there is a range of facilities which are provided to make the visitors stay more enjoyable. These help make Morzine more appealing compared to other winter sports destinations and therefore helps attract more visitors.  

For people who enjoy winter sports, the main built attraction is the range and number of lifts available within the resort.

There are four main types of ski lift.  These are:

• Cable cars – carry up to 60 people who stand inside
• Telecabins – carry 6 to 8 people sitting inside the cabin
• Chair lifts – carry 3 to 6 people with their skis or snowboards on
• Drag lifts –  drag the skier up to the top of the slope 

In all winter sports resorts the lift system is a very important facility because skiers and snowboarders want to reach different parts of the resort easily and do not want to spend time waiting in queues.

Another attraction for people who enjoy winter sports is the range of mountain restaurants.

Many skiers enjoy the opportunity to eat at these restaurants as part of the experience of skiing.

In the summer months, mountain bikers come to Morzine to cycle on the mountains which the skiers use in the winter. The main built attraction for these tourists is the system of well marked paths which can be followed, as well as the lifts which have been adapted to carry mountain bikes.

 

In recent years new attractions have been built in Morzine. These include a number of ‘adventure parks’ where people use ropes to climb and swing through trees. A summer toboggan run has also been constructed and there are a range of adventure activities available.

The ‘Fantasticable’ allows people to ‘fly’ across a valley suspended by a cable!

Fantasticable

However, the main built attraction remains the network of lifts which allow skiers and snowboarders to access the many kilometres of marked pistes.

 

.Activity 4

Information about Morzine can be obtained from two websites:
www.morzine-avoriaz.com
www.portesdusoleil.com
Both of these websites provide a range of information about activities in Morzine as well as providing information about lift pass prices and details of current events and weather conditions.
The information on both web sites changes depending on whether or not it is summer or winter season.  (You can click between the two seasons using the weather icons)
For a summer week in Morzine (July or August), plan a week’s activities for a family with two teenage children.
Also, find out the cost of the following adult lift passes in winter.

1. A one day pass for Morzine
2. A two day pass for Avoriaz
3. A 6 day pass for the whole Portes du Soleil ski area

The Portes du Soleil web site has a number of video clips which can be accessed to give you a clearer idea of what a winter sports resort looks like.

Additional Research
Research the websites to find information about the events which are planned for the near future.
Plan a week’s itinerary for an older couple visiting Morzine in the summer.