The town of Samoëns is located in the Vallée du Giffre in the French Alps and carries the designation of a "ville fleurie" distinguishing it as one of the most beautiful towns in France. It is a popular summer destination as well as the site of a ski resort that departs from a new lift at the edge of town linking up to Samoëns 1600 also known as the Plateau de Saix This resort is part of the larger five town Grand Massif which includes Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon and Sixt fer a Cheval.
Rated as one of the most beautiful national parks in France, Cirque du Fer-a-Cheval is a short drive away, on a clear summer day do not miss the views of the Massif de Mt. Blanc from the top of the Col De Joux Plan, or the Cascade Du Rouget near Sixt.
For the adventurous, summer activities include: White water rafting, kayaking, para gliding, mountain biking, hiking and cycling many of the Tour De France routes that criss cross the valley, the "IndianaPark" or ropes course, mountain climbing and 4 wheeling. For the less adventurous, there are a number of out door cafes, bars, a weekly market (Wednesday mornings), restaurants, a public pool and water slide, as well as many parks.
With their 265 km of pistes and their 5 interlinked resorts, the Grand Massif ski slopes are currently considered as one of the largest, finest domains in France. For a long time, they were used as a training ground by Antoine Deneriaz, a native of Morillon who won the gold medal in the downhill event at the Turin Winter Olympics on 12 February 2006.
Thanks to its geographical location, the Grand Massif enjoys abundant, regular snowfalls throughout the season, and the area is well known for the quality of the snow in spring. Of course, 80% of the slopes are north-facing, allowing the snow to lie for longer and remain in good condition.
The Grand Massif features some exceptional spots:
- The Combe de Gers with its dizzying 800 m drop and untouched snow!
- The blue Cascades piste running for 14 km from the summit at Flaine to Sixt Fer à Cheval
- The Marvel piste that provides beginners with a 5 km run through the heart of a forest over a century old
- three jamparks for the greater joy of freestylers
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