Summer

DIARY OF EVENTS - SUMMER 2012

Fete de la Musique - 21st June
Fête de la Musique is the celebration that takes place every summer solstice in cities, towns and villages across France. More than a music festival, the Fête de la Musique is a free event that spills out from the bars and restaurants onto the streets and encompasses every type of music imaginable, from local amateur teen bands to professional classical musicians, from club DJ’s to traditional folk bands. The Fete de la Musique is now celebrated all over the world, where it is more commonly refered to as World Music Day – it is definitely one of the not-to-be-missed events of the summer social calendar!

Pass'Portes du Soleil 29th June - 1 July
This mountain biking three day event sees cyclists of all abilities tackling the VTT routes of the Portes du Soleil. There are 3 designated categories to enter: 75km, 50km and 30km as well as a special 'Rando Kids' track. You can start from a number of resorts throughout the region and each trek takes just one day so you can enter on either Saturday or Sunday (or both if you're a bit keen!) Refreshment points and marshalls ensure that everything runs smoothly so turn up and get muddy!

Mont Blanc Motor Rally (September)
For petrol heads in the Alps the Mont Blanc Rally is one of the big events of the summer. First held in 1947 it was originally organised as part of the Fete d’Evian and was known as the “Rally Paris-Evian”. It was not until 1961 that it finally became the “Rally Mont-Blanc”.
Today the race exists as the fifth stage of the French National Rally Championships and draws many of France’s top drivers to the mountain town of Morzine to compete. The race takes place over two days, during which the drivers will cover over 600km around the Portes du Soliel and the Massif du Chablais.
The Mont-Blanc Rally is a road rally and therefore differs in a number of ways, from the more recognisable stage rallies which drive through snow and dirt along forestry trails. Firstly, as the name suggests, these races take place on roads that are open to the public. The emphasis therefore, is not on point-to-point speed but on accurate time keeping, navigation and vehicle reliability. Each driver and co-driver must cover long distances in each stage along twisting, open roads attempting at all times to maintain a constant pre-determined speed.

In recent years the Rally has been a highlight in the Morzine summer calendar drawing large crowds to the resort. The sight of the cars parked around town is enough of an incentive to visit during the event, especially now that it is twinned with the classic car rally as well. However, once they head up the road to Avoriaz, the real excitement starts. Whilst the noise does break the tranquillity of the mountains, there is something undeniably cool about seeing a car not too dissimilar to the one you drive to the shops in, hurtling up the road and screeching around the bends!