As well as being a well-known winter resort, the mountain town of Morzine has established itself as something of a mountain biking and outdoor sports mecca. In the middle of summer, it draws hordes of middle-aged men in their body armour, many from Britain. To gain some height, they sling their bikes on special contraptions on the side of chairlifts and then come charging down the trails, which are lined by lush grassy slopes or dense coniferous woodland. There are also zipwires, good walking, road biking and white water rafting in the vicinity. After burning through the calories, you'll find dozens of reasonably-priced (by ski resort standards) restaurants, cafes and bars on Morzine's two main thoroughfares. In the centre of the town, there are some pleasant pedestrianised areas, complete with modern sculptures, vintage lampposts and baskets of flowers. And on some days, a large street market camps in the car park near the tourist office. By Alpine's standards, Morzine's altitude of 1,000 metres is quite low, but its lift systems and road network link with the higher modern resort of Avoriaz.
