Avoriaz represents a break through in modern resort design. With ski centres in the 1960s being 'thrown up' with little thought for architectural design in areas of great natural beauty of France, Italy, Switzerland and North America, Avoriaz was arguably the first to think about design. Two levels of design also - firstly the architecture, secondly the layout.
Built on a sheer granite cliff above the French resort of Morzine, Avoriaz still seems 'space-aged' and unique 30 years on. Sitting on the border with Switzerland, at a high altitude, car-free and well placed on the Portes du Soleil circuit, arguably the world's largest lift-connected ski region, it has a lot going for it.
Avoriaz is linked to Swiss resorts in the region via the legendary 'Wall' descent -- unofficially categorised a 'brown' run due to the effect it may have on your underwear -- you can take the chair down without shame instead if necessary. The area has skiing for all standards and there is plenty for experts including five testing black runs (20 in the region).
At the start of the day everyone in Avoriaz piles outs of their apartments and gets on to their skis - it's a very surreal experience, rather like 'rush hour' in a town or city but with everyone in ski gear and sliding. The famous childrens' village in the centre takes kids on residential stays from age 6 and includes a children only snowboard park.
The place is so well designed that there's rarely a walk involved to reach a lift. I the bottom of the lift you want to take is above you you can just ski down to the bottom of the six-seater chair that runs through the village and get a lift up to the top first.
| Vertical Drop: | 2166 ft
| Half Pipes: | 2 |
| Top Elevation: | 8074 ft | Snowmaking:
| 9% |
Skiable Acres:
| 9884 | Total:
| 45km |
| Trails: | 47 | Restaurants:
| 30 |
| Lifts: | 37 | | |
Cable cars:
| 3 | | |
Източник:
www.goski.com 
