Discover Flaine's cultural heritage

The resort of Flaine has a rich history. Discovered by Geneva architect Gérard Chervaz, a pupil of Jean Dubuisson at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, this incredible natural area of Arâches-les-Carroz in the heart of the Massif du Giffre was the subject of a tourism development project.

In 1959, Gérard Chervaz surrounded himself with Éric Boissonnas, his wife and his brother Rémi Boissonnas, to think about creating a winter sports resort on the Flaine site. In 1960, American architect Marcel Breuer joined the team and helped design the integrated resort we know today, an example of urban planning, contemporary architecture and design.

Flaine is one of the five resorts that make up the Grand Massif, one of the ski areas with the best views of the Mont Blanc massif. Its international reputation is built on this superb location and its incredible cultural heritage, including the listed Le Flaine hotel and the Betelgeuse building, the two most emblematic, its art centre and its renowned auditorium.

The centre of the resort of Flaine, known as the "Forum", features a remarkable collection of architecture and art bequeathed to it by its creators and patrons Éric and Sylvie Boissonnas. Inaugurated in 1968, the "Le Flaine" hotel and the "Le Bételgeuse " building were the resort's first two buildings. Their raw concrete facades and roofs are listed on the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments.

The other emblematic building in the Flaine resort is undoubtedly the "Le Flaine" hotel and its terrace overlooking the cliff, as if defying the void. You can also visit the Ecumenical Chapel, which was listed as a Historic Monument in December 2014.

On the artistic side, the car-free resort of Flaine is home to the monumental sculpture park. Here you can admire works by great artists such as Jean Dubuffet's "Le Boqueteau", Pablo Picasso's "La Tête de Femme" and Victor Vasarely's "Les Trois Hexagones". The Flaine Auditorium houses a work by Pol Bury.

Formerly known as the Centre d'Art, the Flaine Cultural Centre continues to promote contemporary art, with numerous exhibitions by contemporary artists. A library with a children's area and reading corners is also part of Flaine's cultural offering.

The resort of Flaine is a dream location for classical music virtuosos. The Flaine Auditorium is designed to hold five hundred people and boasts incredible acoustics.

A varied and renowned range of summer courses is available in the heart of the Porte du Désert Blanc. Flaine's schools and institutions, "Opus 74", "L'Académie Internationale de Musique de Flaine" and "Musique à Flaine", continue the tradition of high-level musical education. Come and enjoy one of the many free concerts given in the Auditorium or at the public auditions held at the end of each academy.

As you can see, the resort of Flaine will delight lovers of art, design and contemporary architecture. Get in touch with the Flaine Cultural Centre to find out about the full programme and plan your discovery of the Grand Massif's cultural treasures.