Megève

Megève

The church square in Megève

Coat of arms
Megève

Coordinates: 45°51′28″N 6°37′05″E / 45.8578°N 6.6181°E / 45.8578; 6.6181Coordinates: 45°51′28″N 6°37′05″E / 45.8578°N 6.6181°E / 45.8578; 6.6181
Country France
Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department Haute-Savoie
Arrondissement Bonneville
Canton Sallanches
Intercommunality Pays du Mont-Blanc
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Sylviane Grosset-Janin
Area1 44.11 km2 (17.03 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 4,139
 • Density 94/km2 (240/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 74173 / 74120
Elevation 1,027–2,485 m (3,369–8,153 ft)
(avg. 1,113 m or 3,652 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Megève (French pronunciation: ​[məʒɛv]) is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France with a population of over 4,000 residents. The town is well-known due its popularity as a ski resort near the Mont-Blanc in the French Alps. Conceived in the 1920s as a French alternative to Saint-Moritz by the Rothschilds, it was the first purpose-built resort in the Alps. Originally it was a prime destination for the French aristocracy. It remains one of the most famous and fanciest ski resorts in the world.[1]

History

The town started its development as a ski resort in the 1910s when the Rothschild family started to spend their winter vacations there after becoming disenchanted with the Swiss resort, St. Moritz. In 1921, Baroness Noémie de Rothschild (1888–1968) opened the Domaine du Mont d'Arbois, a luxury hotel which boosted the resort's development.[2] By the 1950s Megève was one of the most popular ski resorts in Europe and attracted many wealthy individuals and celebrities.[2] Nowadays it is still visited largely by affluent people as is evidenced by the real estate prices.[3]

Development

For the 2015-2016 winter season a six-seater chair opened replacing the two old Mont Joux chairs. Further additions include the latest branch of Folie Douce at the top of Mont Joux, introducing the chain’s trademark Austrian-style afternoon party scene, which opened for the 2014/2015 season. This will be the fifth in the Folie Douce chain, which started in Val d’Isère and spread to Val Thorens, Méribel and Alpe d’Huez.[4]

Sports

Winter sports

Megève's Alpine skiing area, known as the "Domaine Évasion Montblanc", comprises Megève itself (Mont d'Arbois, L'Alpette, Rochebrune and Côte 2000); Saint-Gervais-les-Bains; Combloux; La Giettaz; Les Contamines-Montjoie and Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce. The "Evasion Mont-blanc" range covers approx 445 km of the ski slopes.[5]

On an area of 8 km² there are 116 lifts providing access to 217 slopes totalling 445 km.[5]

In addition, the "Domaine Évasion Mont-Blanc" includes 18 cross-country skiing trails totalling 95 km (59 mi.).

The first three World Junior Figure Skating Championships were held in Megève in 1976, 1977, & 1978.

The "Megève Polo Masters" is an international polo tournament played on snow. The "Snow Golf Cup" is a unique golf tournament, held on snow on Megève's Mont d'Arbois plateau.

As well as these winter sports, Megève also hosts winter events including an international curling tournament, a ski cross World Cup and a mogul skiing cup. There is also night skiing in February, a ski-cross slope, an open-air ice rink, snowshoeing and dog sledding. Plus 38 km (24 miles) of Nordic skiing in the region.[6]

Summer sports

Megève is also a popular summer holiday destination especially renowned for its golfing opportunities.

Twin towns

Oberstdorf in Germany is since 1970 a twin town of Megève. It is also located in the mountains and famous for summer and winter holidays.

Media

Megève is the ski resort in the beginning of the 1963 film Charade, where Audrey Hepburn's Regina Lampert meets Cary Grant's character.[7] It is also the title of one of the tracks by composer Henry Mancini on the film's soundtrack.

Megève was one of four World Cup venues in the Alps featured in the 1969 film Downhill Racer, starring Robert Redford and Gene Hackman.[8][9]

Panoramic view of Megève.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.peakretreats.co.uk/winter/ski-resorts/mont-blanc-chamonix-valley/megeve
  2. 1 2 Viguie-Desplaces, Philippe (December 22, 2015). "Chalet du Mont d'Arbois : et Rothschild créa Megève…". Le Figaro. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ Roughly 6900 €/m² on average, according to www.cotation-immobiliere.fr (as of October 2008)
  4. ↑ Megève - http://www.skicollection.co.uk/Ski/Megeve.htm
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Evasion Mont-Blanc – Skiing vacations with a nostalgic flair". Ski France. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Megève Winter Sports - http://www.skicollection.co.uk/Ski/Megeve.htm
  7. ↑ Audrey Hepburn. 2001. p. 184. ISBN 0-75281-540-7.
  8. ↑ Lund, Morton (November 1969). "The Sundance Kid: the making of Downhill Racer". SKI (magazine). Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  9. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (November 17, 2009). "Downhill Racer: Trailblazer". Criterion Collection. (Variety). Retrieved January 26, 2014.
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