La Clusaz: The History of this Unique Destination

The History of the Ski Resort of La Clusaz

To help you make the most of your stay in La Clusaz, Cimalpes tells you everything you need to know about the resort's history. Striking the perfect balance between a deep-rooted tradition and sympathetic tourist development, this year-round resort has undoubted appeal for mountain lovers. Are you ready to step back in time to discover the secrets of this village resort nestled in the heart of the Aravis massif?

And If We Go Back in Time Together?

Originally a Small Village

La Clusaz was originally a small mountain village whose inhabitants lived off the land and surrounding forests.

Farmers cultivated cereals for animal feed, flax and hemp for clothing, and potatoes as a staple food. Pastoral activities formed the bedrock of village life, notably the production of Reblochon cheese, which continues to this day.

Thus, the growth of tourism in La Clusaz was a gradual process, allowing its inhabitants to adjust and adapt to new developments. It can be said that La Clusaz has taken time to build its success and reputation before becoming one of the French Alps' best-known resorts.

A Population Invested in Their Resort's Success

Today, modern La Clusaz retains much of the charm and authenticity of the original village, whose history is integral to its identity, and whose inhabitants are strongly invested in the development of their resort.

Thanks to strict building regulations, the soul of the La Clusaz has been preserved, with traditional chalets designed and constructed to blend harmoniously with the village and surrounding landscape. 

1902: A Key Date in the Evolution of La Clusaz

Improved Access

1902 saw the construction of the modern road linking Annecy to the Aravis range via the Thônes valley. This easily navigable road leads directly to the centre of the resort village.

A Summer Destination First

La Clusaz started out as a summer destination. Although isolated for a long time due to the absence of an accessible road, it soon built a name for itself as a summer destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Did you know ? La Clusaz hosted its first Tour de France stage in 1911.

The Birth of a Welcoming Winter Sports Resort

Sliding on a Paret .

Before the introduction of skiing, local children used to have fun sliding on the snow on a "paret", a traditional wooden sledge with a single central skate and with similar handling to a bicycle.

Did you know ? In La Clusaz, it is still possible to enjoy sliding on the snow on a "paret", just like olden times.

. To the Dazzling Development of Skiing

The development of skiing in La Clusaz is marked by several key dates. At the beginning of the 20th Century, snowsports were in their infancy.

Several key events have contributed to the development of La Clusaz into a internationally renowned ski resort: 

• In 1907, the first ski competition was organised in La Clusaz
• After the First World War, an ice-rink was built in 1928, followed by a cable car in 1935
• 1938 saw the arrival of the Crêt du Loup, the first drag lift in La Clusaz
• After that, the development of lift system did not cease, with a new ski lift built almost every year. In 1973, the common ski pass was introduced giving access to all parts of the La Clusaz ski area

Did you know ? With the development of skiing, the inhabitants of La Clusaz saw an improvement in their standard of living. Winter tourism has become a major source of employment.

A Land of Snow Sports Champions

There are countless sports champions across all disciplines from La Clusaz. In 1925, a sports club was created by Mr Bretone, who was La Clusaz's schoolteacher and a keen skier. The founding of the club facilitated the development of these local  champions, first in cross-country skiing and then later in all winter sports.

Guy Perillat became a gold medallist at the Squaw Valley Olympics in the 1960s, going on to win other medals much to the delight of the locals.

The 1990s further established La Clusaz's reputation with Edgar Grospiron taking a gold medal in the moguls at the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games, then going on to become the moguls world champion in 1995. Another La Clusaz local, Régine Cavagnoud, became world champion in the women's Super-G in 2001.

These medallists all started out on the ski areas of La Clusaz with its exceptional snow conditions. Come to La Clusaz and ski in the tracks of these great champions .

Chalets with Character

A Long-standing Tradition of Hospitality

Built in 1780, the Auberge du Passage des Aravis, now the Hôtel des Aravis, was the first accommodation to welcome visitors. From this time onwards, hospitality became part of the history of La Clusaz, and the hotel was followed by chalets and other visitor accommodation as the resort developed.

Chalets of Notable Character

Many chalet renovations are carried out by the artisan craftsmen based in La Clusaz, whose knowledge of traditional building methods preserves the authentic charm of La Clusaz's architecture.

Over time, the construction of the chalets has become more refined, but traditional chalets are still constructed using a stone sub-frame and wooden top frame.

The Aravis Massif and its Linked Resorts

La Clusaz shares the Aravis massif with neighbouring Grand-Bornand and Manigod, and the histories and development of each these resorts have followed a similar path.

• Le Grand-Bornand, like La Clusaz, was originally an agricultural settlement, and the advent of tourism here revolutionised village life and the economy. 1907 was an important year for Le Grand-Bornand, which saw the birth of skiing in the resort, although the first ski lift did not come into service until 1952. Today, tourism is one of the major sources of employment in this family-orientated village resort.
• Manigod is also characterised by significant agricultural activity throughout its history and up to the present day. The name “Manigod” means “inhabitants of the forests and pastures”. At the start of the 1950s, the resort started to take off thanks to improved access via the road over the Col de la Croix Fry, and Manigod had become a true tourist resort by the late 1960s.

Above all else, the thread that links La Clusaz's past to the present is the love of the mountains shared by locals and visitors alike. Are you ready for an exceptional holiday in the natural grandeur of the mountains?