Les Gets
Encyclopedia
Les Gets is a commune
in the Haute-Savoie
department in the Rhône-Alpes
region
in south-eastern France
.
The village's first single person chair lift was opened in 1938 with the first chair lift on Mont Chery in 1954.
and Morzine
, at the western edge of the Portes du Soleil
ski area.
s or orgues will fill the streets with mechanical music. Many of the organ grinders will come from other European countries, such as Germany and Holland.
Traditional Savoy dishes are central to Les Gets cuisine. These include tartiflette
, a dish of potatoes "au gratin" with reblochon cheese
and lardons. A traditional liquer, génépi
, is also often drunk as a digestif, although the exact constitution of this medicinal drink varies as many residents produce their own.
Les Gets has many pubs including The Bar Boomerang
(Australian), The Black Bear (Canadian), and an Irish pub (Irish) as well as a club called The Igloo. The Bar Boomerang is a famous bar having seen many world cup downhill riders over the years. Be sure to look at the ceiling for famous memorabilia such as old world cup frames and team banners.
In the summer, there are all kinds of evening activities in the centre of town, ranging from discos to the "Pot de Bienvenue" (a welcome drink) on a Monday evening. A lot of emphasis is given to children's entertainment, such as wooden games set out in the street, street performers and a carousel. Live bands regularly perform on the semi-permanent stage in the centre of the village, attracting both locals and tourists.
events. There are two distinct downhill mountain bike areas, one on each side of the village. The downhill mountain bike run on Mt Chéry has been used in the Mountain Bike World Cup
s in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, and in the Mountain Bike World Championships in 2004.
Golf - Les Gets has an 18 hole par 70 golf
course 5264 metres in length which overlooks Mont Blanc
. In the winter it forms part of the pistes.
within the Portes du Soleil
. Lift passes can be purchased for Les Gets and the neighbouring area of Morzine, or for the wider Portes du Soleil. Combined Morzine and Les gets, have around 50 lifts across several distinct ski areas.
The ski area consists mainly of blue and red runs (beginner and intermediate). There is an area known as "The Bowl" to which numerous ski runs and chairlifts feed into. Situated in this area are the resort's most easily accessible black runs: 'Yeti', accessed via the resort's slowest chairlift, La Rosta, and Myrtilles accessed by the Grains d'Or Express. Mt. Chery hosts the majority of black runs, also having numerous red runs, with just one blue and no green pistes. It is the "locals'" mountain, Les Chavannes being the tourist side.
There are several good spots for off-piste skiing and snowboarding, the best of which are; to the sides of 'Yeti', the long black run off Chamossiere and also by taking a short hike from the top of the Ranfoilly lift. the latter has been rated as one of the best off piste powder bowls in Europe (although there is very often a medium chance of avalanches).
The snowpark is located on Mt. Chery, which is on the ski area on the other side of the village. A bus connects the 2 sides however it takes just as long to walk. The snowpark has kickers, a spine, rails, boxes, a boarder cross and new for 07-08 was a large air bag. The park is fairly small and served by a 2 man chairlift.
Children's skiing - Les Gets has an area of the mountain for children only, le Grande Cry. This has 2 button lifts and several runs, all themed around trappers and Indians. They hold weekly treasure hunts for children.
Ski lessons - there are many companys offering ski lessons both for adults and children, private and public but the main company operating in the area is ESF (L'Ecole du Ski Francais), who have a building situated at the foot of the slopes, adjacent to Les Gets Village itself.
Ice Skating - In the winter there is an open air ice rink in the centre of the village.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
department in the Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in south-eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The village's first single person chair lift was opened in 1938 with the first chair lift on Mont Chery in 1954.
Geography
Les Gets is situated on a plateau between SamoënsSamoëns
Samoëns is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village of Samoëns is located in the Vallée du Giffre in the French Alps and carries the designation of a "ville fleurie" distinguishing it as one of the most beautiful towns in France...
and Morzine
Morzine
Morzine is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France with panoramic mountain views, modern ski facilities and hotels and restaurants. The ski resort of Avoriaz is located on the territory of the commune...
, at the western edge of the Portes du Soleil
Portes du Soleil
Les Portes du Soleil is a major skisports destination in the northern French alps encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland...
ski area.
Culture
Les Gets contains a museum of Mechanical Music and hosts a festival of Mechanical Music bi-annually. This has been running for 25 years. The 13th festival was held between 16 and 18 July 2010 and the next will be held in July 2012. During this period the streets will be closed off and barrel organBarrel organ
A barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case, usually of wood, and often highly decorated...
s or orgues will fill the streets with mechanical music. Many of the organ grinders will come from other European countries, such as Germany and Holland.
Traditional Savoy dishes are central to Les Gets cuisine. These include tartiflette
Tartiflette
Tartiflette is a French dish from the Haute Savoie region of France. It is made with potatoes, reblochon cheese, cream, and lardons.It is also commonly found with onions.A popular variation of this dish is to substitute the lardons with smoked salmon....
, a dish of potatoes "au gratin" with reblochon cheese
Reblochon
Reblochon is a French cheese from the Alps region of Haute-Savoie and has been granted the AOC title. Reblochon was first produced in the Thônes and Arly valleys, in the Aravis massif. Thônes remains the centre of Reblochon production; the cheeses are still made in the local cooperatives. Until...
and lardons. A traditional liquer, génépi
Génépi
Génépi or genepy or genepì is a liqueur or aperitif, similar in makeup to absinthe; Chartreuse is an augmented form of génépi concocted in the early 18th century...
, is also often drunk as a digestif, although the exact constitution of this medicinal drink varies as many residents produce their own.
Night life
There are many restaurants ranging from the family friendly and reasonably priced to fairly top end. They mostly specialise in local savoyard cuisine.Les Gets has many pubs including The Bar Boomerang
Boomerang
A boomerang is a flying tool with a curved shape used as a weapon or for sport.-Description:A boomerang is usually thought of as a wooden device, although historically boomerang-like devices have also been made from bones. Modern boomerangs used for sport are often made from carbon fibre-reinforced...
(Australian), The Black Bear (Canadian), and an Irish pub (Irish) as well as a club called The Igloo. The Bar Boomerang is a famous bar having seen many world cup downhill riders over the years. Be sure to look at the ceiling for famous memorabilia such as old world cup frames and team banners.
In the summer, there are all kinds of evening activities in the centre of town, ranging from discos to the "Pot de Bienvenue" (a welcome drink) on a Monday evening. A lot of emphasis is given to children's entertainment, such as wooden games set out in the street, street performers and a carousel. Live bands regularly perform on the semi-permanent stage in the centre of the village, attracting both locals and tourists.
Summer
Mountain biking - In the summer, Les Gets hosts many downhill mountain bikingMountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
events. There are two distinct downhill mountain bike areas, one on each side of the village. The downhill mountain bike run on Mt Chéry has been used in the Mountain Bike World Cup
Mountain Bike World Cup
The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is a multi-round mountain bike racing series that is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The first World Cup series – which was composed of cross-country events – was held in 1989. The Downhill World Cup was inaugurated two years later, and the Dual...
s in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, and in the Mountain Bike World Championships in 2004.
Golf - Les Gets has an 18 hole par 70 golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course 5264 metres in length which overlooks Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco , meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
. In the winter it forms part of the pistes.
Winter
Skiing - Les Gets is a linked ski resortSki resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
within the Portes du Soleil
Portes du Soleil
Les Portes du Soleil is a major skisports destination in the northern French alps encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland...
. Lift passes can be purchased for Les Gets and the neighbouring area of Morzine, or for the wider Portes du Soleil. Combined Morzine and Les gets, have around 50 lifts across several distinct ski areas.
The ski area consists mainly of blue and red runs (beginner and intermediate). There is an area known as "The Bowl" to which numerous ski runs and chairlifts feed into. Situated in this area are the resort's most easily accessible black runs: 'Yeti', accessed via the resort's slowest chairlift, La Rosta, and Myrtilles accessed by the Grains d'Or Express. Mt. Chery hosts the majority of black runs, also having numerous red runs, with just one blue and no green pistes. It is the "locals'" mountain, Les Chavannes being the tourist side.
There are several good spots for off-piste skiing and snowboarding, the best of which are; to the sides of 'Yeti', the long black run off Chamossiere and also by taking a short hike from the top of the Ranfoilly lift. the latter has been rated as one of the best off piste powder bowls in Europe (although there is very often a medium chance of avalanches).
The snowpark is located on Mt. Chery, which is on the ski area on the other side of the village. A bus connects the 2 sides however it takes just as long to walk. The snowpark has kickers, a spine, rails, boxes, a boarder cross and new for 07-08 was a large air bag. The park is fairly small and served by a 2 man chairlift.
Children's skiing - Les Gets has an area of the mountain for children only, le Grande Cry. This has 2 button lifts and several runs, all themed around trappers and Indians. They hold weekly treasure hunts for children.
Ski lessons - there are many companys offering ski lessons both for adults and children, private and public but the main company operating in the area is ESF (L'Ecole du Ski Francais), who have a building situated at the foot of the slopes, adjacent to Les Gets Village itself.
Ice Skating - In the winter there is an open air ice rink in the centre of the village.
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
- Communes of the Haute-Savoie department