A little history | Le Grand Bornand

122 BC, ancient discoveries

The history of Le Grand-Bornand dates back to ancient times, when the land of the Allobroges fell under Roman domination. A peculiar anecdote has it that the famous "Allô" used on the telephone today is an indirect tribute to this ancient people.
Traces of this can be found in infrastructure such as roads and bridges, like the "Pont des Romains", but also in the toponymy of certain places. For example, "Villavit" means "old town" in dialect, while "villa" refers directly to Roman influence.

1569, a devastating fire

The village experiences one of its darkest chapters: a fire ravages everything from the church to the dwellings. The church was rebuilt, and a large bell, forged from salvaged metal, was built. Unfortunately, this bell was requisitioned in 1792 to supply the Republic's cannon foundries. After the Revolution, the bell tower was finally rebuilt, and work was completed in 1845.

1664, a chalet over 300 years old!

The oldest chalet, dating from 1664, is still inhabited by the same family.

1699, the entry of Reblochon

Reblochon, a local specialty, officially enters local history, mentioned in a lease.

Today, with some forty farms operating year-round and 2060 cows, Le Grand-Bornand is the leading agropastoral commune in Haute-Savoie. Here, agriculture is more than just a tradition: it’s a well-established economic pillar that continues to thrive alongside the booming tourism industry.

Want to find out more about Reblochon?

1795, the first weekly market

The Wednesday morning market,

has become a popular tradition. As such, it is the last surviving Reblochon market in the region.

It’s one of the most famous in the Aravis region, and a meeting place for holidaymakers and Bornandins alike. Alongside stalls brimming with cheeses, charcuterie, vegetables and other local or manufactured products, you’ll meet the farmers of Grand-Bornand.

March 10, 1817, a devastating avalanche

A devastating avalanche descends from the slopes of Tardevant, sweeping away forests and homes. This event marks the beginning of a flourishing timber and plank trade in the region.

Joseph Vuillet, 1995

My father was already a woodworker, but he didn’t have a machine; he planed wood with a varlope, a plane; he cut wood with a saw.

From 1920, the start of tourism

Le Grand-Bornand is gradually evolving,

with the appearance of the first hotels designed to welcome summer vacationers. The Hôtel La Croix Saint-Maurice and the Hôtel La Pointe Percée, which have been in existence since the 1850s, bear witness to summer tourism activity dating back to this period, although it underwent a notable transformation from the 1920s onwards.

Raymond Perrillat Mercerot, 1995

In the old days, there wasn’t much, either in winter or summer, so no tourists.
Of course, if there were no tourism now, it wouldn’t be easy for young people to find work.

Until the first half of the century

Village life was based on agriculture, particularly livestock breeding and the production of Reblochon cheese. But tourism changed all that, with the mountains attracting mountaineers and adventurers. Shortly before 1900, the first tourist ascent of Pointe Percée (2750 m), the highest peak in the Aravis mountain range, was recorded.

History of skiing!

Winter 1906 / 1907

Skiing began in Grand-Bornand, thanks to a Swiss skier staying in the village with his bentwood boards.

January 1936,

1st ascent of Mont Lachat on skis.

December 1944,

Creation of the SA du Téléski du Grand-Bornand, prior to the installation of the first ski lift at Les Dodes, in service during the winter of 1945/1946.

1949,

The ski jump in the village.

1953,

Construction of the first ski lift at Chinaillon, the Outalays ski lift.

Yvonne Perrillat Mercerot, 1995

I remember I had my older brothers who skied, so they used to take me along, they were the ones who made their skis, and then it was fun, they’d go up like that, quite high, and they’d make great descents.

Félicien Missilier, 1995

Better skiing conditions and a longer ski lift brought more visitors; the weak point: the distance from the village that had to be climbed: 6 km.

1961,

Cohabitation of two lift companies, with the launch of SA du Téléski de la Mulaterie, opposite the “historic” SA du Téléski du Grand-Bornand, and installation of the longest ski lift in Haute-Savoie, the Floria lift (1,793 m altitude and 1,756 m long).

From 1962 to 1976,

Opening of the La Floria (1750m), Maroly (1850m) and Lachat chairlifts, bringing the highest point in the ski area to 2100m.

1973,

Creation of SAEM Les téléskis du Grand-Bornand, the only local ski lift company from 1981. Launch of the Joyère chairlift, providing access to the slopes from the village.

1982,

Opening of the Duche and Annes chairlifts, extending the ski area to the foot of Pointe Percée.

1987,

3 pairs of Bearded Vultures, a rare and fragile species, have been recorded in the Aravis following the reintroduction of the species in 1987.

Tourist resort" classification

In 2017, Le Grand-Bornand was awarded the “resort de tourisme” label, in recognition of its dynamism, the quality of its infrastructure and its ability to welcome visitors, summer and winter alike.

Winter 2019/2020,

Delivery of the detachable 6-seater Charmieux chairlift, the new “backbone” of the ski area.

2024,

Marcel Pernet-Solliet and Gilbert Fournier-Bidoz, lift pioneers born, so to speak, at the same time as Le Grand-Bornand’s 1st ski lift, symbolically mark the end, on March 25, 2024, of the Duche chairlift after 40 years of loyal service.