Manigod introduction
General Information
Manigod is a ski resort located in the Aravis range of the Haute-Savoie of the French Alps. The elevation of the resort is 1,500 meters or about 4,900 feet. The top of the lifts is at 1,810 meters or about 5,900 feet elevation. Manigod is the first ski resort to receive the ISO 14001 certification which is given to companies that control their impact on the environment and also work to reduce those impacts. Manigod is a modern ski resort which has retained the charm of a mountain village. During the summer, farming takes the place of skiing and winter sports. Manigod is also less than an hour and half away from Geneva.
Winter Activities
There are 330 metres of tracks for skiers of all levels of experience; even though the area is mainly for intermediate level skiers, any skier can find some trails to suit his expertise. There are 26 pistes in all. Besides catering to downhill skiers, there are 20 km of trails for cross-country skiers and back country skiers. Snowshoe-hiking is also quite popular. Seventeen lifts serve the resort of Manigod of which fourteen are surface and three are chair lifts. At night, there are sledging races, wherein sledges made of wood are used. There are championship lure races using sledges in January through March in Manigod. Skijoering is available wherein the skier is towed behind a horse or donkey, quite an amusement. There are also miles of trails which facilitate ice-climbing.
Summer Activities
Manigod is surrounded by pastures and cows and the area around Manigod is primarily agricultural. There are 27 working farms and cheese making is a local specialty. And these activities are carried on in summer. There are many miles of hiking trails. The Festival Tartiflette takes place in August which includes a local comedy show and a tartiflette for 400 people. There are cheese making cellars to visit. The farms offer taste testing tours of home-made bread and jam and butter as well as cheese. Along with tours of the farms, there is paragliding, climbing, and mountaineering; guides are available for whatever hike or tour is desired. . An adventure park with zip lines and rope bridges for all levels of adventurer is an added attraction.
Other Information
The Heritage House museum has exhibits displaying the lifestyle of the middle ages of Manigod. There is also a huge pipe organ built by M Formentelli in the Church of St Peter. There are tours of the organ and concerts when the organ is played. There are many bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, and chalets in Manigod for the overnight stays. There is a small art workshop for people who want to work with ceramics and pottery. Manigod also has a cinema for the movie-goers.