Natural northern gate of the French Alps, Samoëns is a historical junction between the authentic mountain universe and the rest of the world via the plateaus of Haute-Savoie. Indeed, Samoëns is nestled in the Haut-Giffre valley, privileged access point to the winter and summer pleasures of high altitudes. The Leman lake, Geneva and its international airport are less than an hour away, through the A40, White Highway, and even a TGV line connects directly Paris to Cluses, at the Giffre valley entrance.

Formerly, along its thousands of years of History, Samoëns has been an official link between the mountain know-how and the rest of the world. The Septimontains, during summer, got specialised into stone cutting, and built themselves with mallets and saws an international reputation based on the quality of their limestone and the ancestral craft tradition. You can find their works in the forts of Vauban, the canals of Napoleon, but also in Europe or in the French colonies of America, in Louisiana. 

Therefore, in the 19th century, the population of Samoëns was two times larger than today, unlike many other stations in the Alps. The tourism boom of the sixties didn’t give birth to a simple soulless ski station out of nothing. It is a village with an obvious authenticity, in which noble materials tell their stories trough the centuries, now serving as a setting and access door to one of the greatest skiing area in the Alps.

While the slopes of Samoëns start at an altitude of 1600m, the station is part of the Grand Massif skiing area, representing 265 km of slopes and more than 70 ski-lifts, with Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, and Sixt. The most experienced one will find there a great quantity of snow cover, even in Spring, but also a great quality, the slopes spreading on the North side of the massifs, whereas those trying their first slides will be able to entertain themselves in one of the greatest beginners area in France, refitted and secured. 

Last, the diversity being essential from now on to multiple pleasures in high altitudes, the Grand Massif offers many activities out of alpine skiing, such as Nordic skiing, or dog-sled rides. Also, during summer, the hiking trails spread all along the mounts and rivers of the Haut-Giffre, the Lac aux Dames becomes a heart of activities, with sport fields, playground, treetop adventure course, or even golf course, while the Mirolda Abyss, second deepest underground hole in the world, becomes a world capital of speleology. 

Hence, Samoëns preserves this privileged status of connection between the worlds of the mountain and the city dwellers, in the past by sharing its know-how, today by being the favourite access door to the altitudes pleasures, while protecting the authenticity of a village. Connected, true, rich and pleasant all year, Samoëns is the station in Haute-Savoie where to stay, live and invest.