Megève is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Megève is a famous ski resort near the Mont-Blanc in the French Alps. Many consider it to be one of the most beautiful resorts in the world.

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, Baronne Noémie de Rothschild opened an important hotel which boosted the resort's development. By the 1950s Megève was one of the most popular ski resorts in Europe and attracted many wealthy individuals and celebrities. Nowadays it is still visited largely by affluent people as is made obvious by the real estate prices.

Sports

Winter sports

Megève's Alpine skiing area, know as the "Domaine Évasion Montblanc", comprises: Megève itself (Mont d'Arbois, Jaillet, 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 and includes some of the best Skiing Piste's in Europe.

On an area of 8 km² there are 111 lifts providing access to 219 slopes totalling 445 km.

• The slopes are thus divided: (from hardest to easiest) 34 blacks, 82 reds, 65 blues and 38 greens. (See ski trail rating)
• The lifts: 70 platter lifts, 31 chairlifts and 10 gondola lifts and aerial tramways.

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.

Megève was one of four European World Cup venues featured in the 1969 film Downhill Racer, starring Robert Redford and Gene Hackman.

Other:

• 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.

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

Megeve is the ski resort in the beginning of the film Charade where Audrey Hepburn's Regina Lampert meets Cary Grant's character. It is also the name of one of the tracks by Henry Mancini on the film's soundtrack.

See also

• Communes of the Haute-Savoie department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Official tourism website of Megève. {fr}/{en}
• Official website of the municipality of Megève.{fr}
• Megève local people, tradition.{fr}
• Ski School Megeve.
• Ski Technique Ski School Megeve.
• English Ski School Megeve.

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