Morillon

Morillon is a ski resort which, together with the neighbouring villages of Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoëns and Sixt Fer à Cheval, forms Le Grand Massif, the fourth-largest ski area in France, with 265 km of pistes. Morillon, picturesquely set in the shady Giffre valley, was once a quiet farming village. Since ski facilities were built here, it has become a popular winter holiday destination, especially for families with children. The pistes around Morillon, mostly below the tree line, do not pose any great challenges. A fast gondola takes you from the village up to the slopes. There are excellent practice slopes for beginners and children directly above the village, and a winter children's village sits in the very heart of the resort. Morillon has a very extensive network of cross-country trails (94 km), both in the valley and at considerable altitude. They are among the longest and at the same time the easiest in the whole Le Grand Massif. Morillon's range of sports away from skiing does not go beyond the minimum typical of French ski resorts. Visitors can choose between winter walking paths, snowshoe walks, an ice rink (in Samoëns, 4 km away), scenic helicopter and balloon flights, paragliding and an indoor pool (17 km from Morillon). If you decide to stay in this particular Le Grand Massif village, be aware that time passes quite calmly and slowly here. There are shops, bars and restaurants, as everywhere, but do not expect particularly varied nightlife.