1600m
12°c
16°c
4 km/h - North
2500m
4°c
18 km/h - South East
10°c
6°c
14 km/h - South East
Flaine
SLOPES OPEN
Grand Massif
connections
open connections
of Flaine
A listed resort that’s uncategorisable! Mixing art, design and architecture, Flaine is a an open-air modern art museum! Make sure you take the time to discover this wonderful resort’s rich history!
The site was discovered in 1959 by the geophysicist Eric Boissonnas and the Swiss architect Gérard Chervaz, who then made the bet to create an example of urban planning, contemporary architecture and design, and for which immediate profitability would be subject to esthetic choices and respect for the environment.
Legend has it that a giant came walking in our mountains, using the valley formerly known as ‘Flainoz’ (Savoyard word for pillow) as a pillow when he needed to rest…That is as far as the legend goes, lost with the giant’s dreams. Flainoz became Flainaz, and then Flaine.
To design the resort, Éric and Sylvie Boissonnas, art patrons of the 20th century who loved both modern art and classical music, joined forces with Bauhaus master Marcel Breuer, known for a number of prestigious creations: the Unesco Headquarters in Paris, the Whitney Museum in New-York, as well as his furniture designs, including the ‘Wassily’ tubular chair.
Right from the early design stages, Éric Boissonnas and Marcel Breuer were determined to respect nature. They were careful not to disturb the natural surroundings and to integrate the resort into the mountains. In doing so, the general layout was able to blend in with the environment’s contours, and the different resort levels cannot be seen from one to the other.
Marcel Breuer used his imagination, as well as the best and most innovative techniques of the time:
Emile Allais, who was the first French skiing world champion, first French alpine skiing Olympic medallist, first qualified ski instructor… In the 1960’s, he put his experience to good use by designing Flaine’s ski runs.
The resort’s architectural forefathers, the emblematic ‘Le Flaine’ hotel, with its sun terrace overlooking the precipice, and the ‘Bételgeuse’ building were inagurated in 1969 and listed in the French Historical Monuments Survey in 1991.
The ecumenical chapel is listed on French Historical Monuments since December 2014.
Marcel Breuer’s Flaine was awarded the ‘Architectural Heritage of the 20th century’ label by the Ministry of Culture in 2008.
The names of the buildings were inspired by cosmic constellations or the names of the surrounding mountains.
‘The architecture of Flaine is an exemple of the application of the principe of shadow and light that i have adopted. The building facades are cut like diamond points. The sunlight strikes thier facets from differents angles, their reflections producing contrasts in lighting.’
Flaine is home to an exceptional array of art and architecture, thanks to its creators, Éric and Sylvie Boissonnas.
The resort boasts a wealth of monumental works of art ‘Le Boqueteau’ by Jean Dubuffet, ‘La Tête de Femme’ by Pablo Picasso and ‘Les Trois Hexagones’ Victor Vasarely. The Auditorium is home to a Pol Bury fountain.
A great lover of art, Sylvie Boissonnas gave Flaine the image of an ‘open-air museum’. Alongside Marcel Breuer, she was involved in the interior design of the hotels and the creation of the Flaine Art Centre.
Flaine’s positioning as an artistic resort is also due to the strong presence of music. The 500-seat auditorium hosts shows, concerts, events and classical music courses during the summer.
Sylvie Boissonnas created the ‘Centre d’Art de Flaine’ right from the resort’s early days, where contemporary art exhibitions could be held. Today, this cultural and recreational area open to all, comprises:
Flaine’s Art Centre offers you the chance to discover Flaine as you have never seen it before. Take a walk to discover the history of the resort and its creators, Éric and Sylvie Boissonnas; understand and appreciate Marcel Breuer’s architecture; see modern works of art by Picasso, Dubuffet, Vasarely and Bury up close.
Weekly visit free of charge. Please sign up beforehand. Meet at the Art Centre.
Discover the creation of Flaine through this film
With the help of Swiss architect Gérard Chervaz, Eric Boissonnas initiated an architectural project in Flaine, prioritising aesthetics and respect for the environment over profitability. Marcel Breuer, the famous Bauhaus architect, was involved to harmonise the town planning with the surrounding nature. The concrete, chosen to blend in with the limestone landscape, illustrates this approach. This visionary project has been recognised by the listing of the Hôtel Le Flaine and the Betelgeuse building as Historic Monuments.