Les Gets
Skiing
Les Gets is a linked ski resort 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. Morzine and Les Gets combined 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” into which numerous ski runs and chairlifts feed. 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. On the other side of Les Gets, Mount Chery is the locals’ mountain and hosts the majority of black runs, numerous red runs, just one blue and no green pistes.
There are several good spots for off-piste skiing and snowboarding, the best of which are to either side 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.
The snowpark is located on Mt. Chery, which is on the ski area on the other side of the village. A bus connects the two sides. You can walk across the village too, it’s not too far. The snowpark has kickers, a spine, rails, boxes and a boarder cross. The park is fairly small and served by a two-man chairlift.
Children’s skiing
Les Gets has an area of the mountain for children only, le Grande Cry. This has two button-lifts and several runs, all themed around trappers and Indians. They hold weekly treasure hunts for children.
Ski lessons
There are many companies that offer private and public ski lessons for adults and children. 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.
Night life
There are many restaurants in the village, ranging from family-friendly and reasonably priced to fairly top end. They mostly specialise in local savoyard cuisine.
Les Gets has many pubs and bars including JC’s Sports Bar which shows sport in 3D, has pool tables, a dart board, live music and great pub grub. Happy Hour is between 10pm – 1am every night. Look out for international sporting celebs and TV stars in JC’s. Also check out the Bar Boomerang and there is an Irish pub, 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.
Culture
Les Gets has the famous museum of Mechanical Music and hosts a festival of Mechanical Music every other year. During this period the streets will be closed off and barrel organs 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. The next event is summer 2014.
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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Gets.
Video taken from LesGetsTV on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBdi7JKRQWg