Avoriaz’s cedar-clad buildings follow the mountain’s contours, their sloping roofs holding snow above streets that can be travelled on skis. Cars stay outside the village, while balconies look across its distinctive rooflines and towards the surrounding mountains.
The French Alpine resort celebrates its 60th anniversary during winter 2026–27 and throughout 2027. Pierre & Vacances, founded here in 1967, is marking the occasion with a comprehensively refurbished Residence Capella. The company says contemporary apartments, improved insulation and a new indoor swimming pool will join the residence’s ski-in, ski-out access for the coming winter.
Sixty years of mountain architecture
Avoriaz welcomed its first holidaymakers at Christmas 1966, making winter 1966–67 its inaugural season. Its official anniversary identity, 1967–2027, reflects that first winter and the year Pierre & Vacances began in the resort.
Hôtel des Dromonts, the village’s first building, opened that Christmas. Its fan-shaped layout, steep rooflines and timber exterior remain visible at Place des Dromonts, the historic centre. Across Avoriaz, buildings were arranged around the terrain, with their positions intended to make the most of sunlight and mountain views, and ski routes woven between apartments, chalets and amenities.
Untreated red-cedar shingles weather differently according to their orientation, creating grey and chestnut-brown façades. Roofs retain snow, helping the buildings merge into their winter surroundings. For visitors, that original planning still shapes the holiday: accommodation, village streets and skiing are closely connected, with pedestrian routes replacing traffic within the resort.
Mountain views and a warmer return
Pierre & Vacances’ Residence Capella occupies the Crozats district in the higher part of Avoriaz, at 1,800 metres. Lifts connect the district with the resort centre and shops, while apartment balconies face either the Dents Blanches mountain range or the village.
The refurbishment brings fresh living spaces and improved insulation, with heated ski lockers providing somewhere to leave boots after the last run. Direct ski-in, ski-out access makes the residence a practical choice for guests who want to spend much of their holiday on the mountain, while retaining the freedom to return to their apartment during the day.
Capella’s new indoor swimming pool is scheduled for completion in December 2026. It adds an appealing option for the hours after skiing, particularly for groups whose preferred afternoon might divide between another run and a swim. The residence also features in our five new and renewed Alpine stays for winter 2026–27.
Balconies give the apartments an outlook beyond the living room, whether towards the mountain range or across Avoriaz’s unusual architecture. Contemporary interiors and warmer living spaces are the main changes inside; the wider appeal remains the combination of an independent apartment stay and easy access to the slopes.
Space for self-catering evenings
Inghams lists one-bedroom apartments at Capella measuring 30m² and sleeping up to four. The apartments have twin beds in the bedroom, with a double setup available on request, and a double sofa bed in the living area. They also include a balcony, shower room and separate WC.
That layout is worth considering when choosing accommodation: four guests share one bedroom and the living space, rather than having two separate bedrooms. For a couple, the sofa bed can remain unused; for a family or friends sharing, the lounge also becomes a sleeping area.
The equipped kitchenettes include a combined oven and microwave, dishwasher, kettle, toaster and Nespresso coffee machine. They allow for breakfast before skiing and leisurely dinners in the apartment. Bread and pastries can be ordered at reception the previous day for delivery.
Bed linen, towels, accommodation Wi-Fi and a cleaning kit are included, along with end-of-stay housekeeping excluding the kitchenette. Beds made on arrival are a paid option, subject to availability.
Ski days and afternoons in the water
Avoriaz sits centrally within the Portes du Soleil. The wider ski pass provides access to 12 connected French and Swiss resorts and approximately 600km of slopes, offering considerable scope beyond the village’s immediate pistes. Local terrain includes beginner areas, more demanding runs, snowparks and family-oriented fun zones.
The published Avoriaz ski-area season runs from 11 December 2026 to 18 April 2027. Guests considering the final weeks should allow for walking to some accommodation or areas if snow has disappeared from village streets, with some shops, restaurants and services reducing hours or closing towards the season’s end.
Aquariaz offers another swimming option, separate from Capella’s new pool. The public aquatic centre has a 2,400m² tropical-style setting with planted surroundings, a gently flowing river, pools and children’s water-play areas. An outdoor jacuzzi looks towards the mountains, while the children’s paddling pool is heated to 32°C.
Its winter opening period is 13 December 2026 to 16 April 2027, Sunday to Friday, from 2.30pm to 7.30pm. Admission is €12 for adults and €8 for children aged three to 11; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Choosing an anniversary-season week
Avoriaz’s dedicated anniversary programme is still taking shape, with dates, venues and practical details being added to the anniversary calendar as plans are announced. Several established winter events already provide useful dates around which to plan a stay.
Rock On Snow opens the season from 11–13 December 2026, with free testing of skis, snowboards and accessories. On 7–8 January 2027, Avoriaz hosts the prologue and grand start of La Grande Odyssée sled-dog race.
March brings a busier music calendar. Snowboxx runs from 13–20 March, combining skiing and snowboarding with concerts and après-ski for its 13th edition. Rock the Pistes follows from 14–21 March, staging live pop and rock concerts on the Portes du Soleil slopes. Those overlapping dates are useful to bear in mind when choosing between a festival-led trip and a quieter apartment-based break.
Arriving and booking Capella
Geneva-Cointrin Airport is approximately 110km from the residence. Cluses and Thonon-les-Bains TGV stations are both around 45km away, with bus and shuttle connections to Avoriaz. Weather and traffic can affect road-transfer times, so arrival plans should allow for winter conditions.
Drivers leave their cars outside the pedestrian village. Pierre & Vacances recommends reserving the paid covered car park at the resort entrance, which is attended and open around the clock during the season. The operator includes a return transfer between the resort entrance and Capella, with guests and luggage travelling the final part of the journey in a carriage drawn by horses or a snowcat.
Weekly rates announced for Residence Capella start from €1,400 for four people. When selecting an apartment, check the sleeping arrangement and any paid services required, including beds made on arrival or a preferred apartment location, which are subject to availability.
