View source for Megève

{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Megève
|commune status         = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|native name            = {{native name|frp|Megéva}}
|image               = {{Photomontage|position=center
| photo2a = Centre ville de Megeve.JPG
| photo3a = Piste de ski megève 2007.jpg
| photo2b = Mont d'Arbois 1027.JPG
| photo1a = Village @ Rochebrune @ Megève (51037436052).jpg
| size = 270
| spacing = 2
| color = #FFFFFF
| border = 0
| foot_montage = From top to bottom, left to right: view of Megève from Rochebrune, old town with the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, [[Domaine du Mont d'Arbois]] on the [[Mont d'Arbois]] and ski slopes.}}
|image coat of arms     = Blason Megève.svg
|arrondissement         = Bonneville
|canton                 = Sallanches
|INSEE                  = 74173
|postal code            = 74120
|mayor                  = Catherine Jullien-Brèches<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality       = Pays du Mont-Blanc
|coordinates            = {{coord|45.8578|6.6181|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation min m        = 1027
|elevation max m        = 2485
|elevation m            = 1113
|area km2               = 44.11
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}
'''Megève''' ({{IPA|fr|məʒɛv}}; {{langx|frp|Megéva}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Haute-Savoie]] [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]] [[Regions of France|region]] in Southeastern France with a population of more than 3,000 residents. The town is well known as a [[ski resort]] near [[Mont Blanc]] in the [[French Alps]]. Conceived in the 1920s as a French alternative to [[St. Moritz]] by the [[Rothschild family|Rothschilds]], it was the first purpose-built resort in the Alps. Originally it was a prime destination for the [[French nobility|French aristocracy]]; it remains one of the most famous and affluent ski resorts in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peakretreats.co.uk/winter/ski-resorts/mont-blanc-chamonix-valley/megeve|title=Megeve Skiing Holidays - Ski Apartments - Peak Retreats|website=www.peakretreats.co.uk|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
==History==
The town started its development as a ski resort in the 1910s, when the [[Rothschild banking family of France|Rothschild family]] began spending their winter vacations there after becoming disenchanted with the Swiss resort [[St. Moritz]]. In 1921, Baroness [[Noémie de Rothschild]] (1888–1968) opened the [[Domaine du Mont d'Arbois]], a luxury hotel which boosted the resort's development.<ref name="chaletlefig">{{cite news|last1=Viguie-Desplaces|first1=Philippe|title=Chalet du Mont d'Arbois : et Rothschild créa Megève…|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/voyages/2015/12/22/30003-20151222ARTFIG00184-chalet-du-mont-d-arbois-et-rothschild-crea-megeve8230.php|access-date=June 19, 2016|work=Le Figaro|date=December 22, 2015}}</ref> By the 1950s Megève was one of the most popular ski resorts in Europe and attracted many wealthy individuals and celebrities.<ref name="chaletlefig"/> Nowadays it is still visited largely by affluent people {{who|date=September 2017}} as is evidenced by the real estate prices.<ref>Roughly €6900 /m<sup>2</sup> on average, according to www.cotation-immobiliere.fr (as of October 2008)</ref>
==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location = Megève, 1080m (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1951−present)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 15.0
|Feb record high C = 18.4
|Mar record high C = 21.7
|Apr record high C = 26.4
|May record high C = 29.9
|Jun record high C = 34.0
|Jul record high C = 34.0
|Aug record high C = 34.5
|Sep record high C = 29.0
|Oct record high C = 25.3
|Nov record high C = 21.8
|Dec record high C = 16.0
|year record high C =
|Jan high C = 3.2
|Feb high C = 4.5
|Mar high C = 8.8
|Apr high C = 12.8
|May high C = 17.0
|Jun high C = 21.0
|Jul high C = 23.1
|Aug high C = 22.7
|Sep high C = 18.1
|Oct high C = 13.8
|Nov high C = 7.7
|Dec high C = 3.6
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = -1.1
|Feb mean C = -0.3
|Mar mean C = 3.5
|Apr mean C = 7.0
|May mean C = 11.2
|Jun mean C = 14.8
|Jul mean C = 16.7
|Aug mean C = 16.4
|Sep mean C = 12.5
|Oct mean C = 8.6
|Nov mean C = 3.4
|Dec mean C = -0.3
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = -5.4
|Feb low C = -5.2
|Mar low C = -1.9
|Apr low C = 1.2
|May low C = 5.3
|Jun low C = 8.6
|Jul low C = 10.3
|Aug low C = 10.1
|Sep low C = 6.9
|Oct low C = 3.4
|Nov low C = -1.0
|Dec low C = -4.3
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = -27.0
|Feb record low C = -30.6
|Mar record low C = -22.0
|Apr record low C = -15.1
|May record low C = -9.8
|Jun record low C = -3.5
|Jul record low C = -0.8
|Aug record low C = -0.4
|Sep record low C = -3.0
|Oct record low C = -9.0
|Nov record low C = -18.0
|Dec record low C = -24.1
|year record low C =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 144.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 110.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 112.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 102.8
|May precipitation mm = 126.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 133.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 131.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 125.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 111.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 120.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 124.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 167.9
|year precipitation mm =
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 10.8
|Feb precipitation days = 9.8
|Mar precipitation days = 10.3
|Apr precipitation days = 10.2
|May precipitation days = 13.3
|Jun precipitation days = 12.3
|Jul precipitation days = 11.4
|Aug precipitation days = 10.8
|Sep precipitation days = 10.0
|Oct precipitation days = 10.7
|Nov precipitation days = 10.8
|Dec precipitation days = 11.8
|year precipitation days = 132.0
|source 1 = Meteociel<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=74173001
|title = Normales et records pour Megeve (74)
|publisher = Meteociel
|access-date = September 24, 2024}}</ref>}}
==Population==
{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-74173#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|1968 |4929
|1975 |5209
|1982 |5255
|1990 |4750
|1999 |4509
|2007 |3878
|2012 |3326
|2017 |3036
}}
==Development==
For the 2015–2016 winter season a six-seater chair opened replacing the two old Mont Joux chairs. Further additions include the latest branch of Folie Douce at the top of Mont Joux, introducing the chain's trademark Austrian-style afternoon party scene, which opened in the 2014–2015 season. This will be the fifth in the Folie Douce chain, which started in Val d'Isère and then spread to Val Thorens, Méribel and Alpe d'Huez.<ref>Megève – http://www.skicollection.co.uk/Ski/Megeve.htm</ref>
==Sports==
===Winter sports===
Megève's [[Alpine skiing]] area, known as the "Domaine Évasion Mont Blanc", comprises Megève itself (Mont d'Arbois, L'Alpette, Rochebrune and Côte 2000); [[Saint-Gervais-les-Bains]]; [[Combloux]]; [[La Giettaz]]; [[Les Contamines-Montjoie]] and [[Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce]]. The "Evasion Mont-Blanc" range covers approximately 445&nbsp;km of the ski slopes.<ref name=skifrance>{{cite web|title=Evasion Mont-Blanc – Skiing vacations with a nostalgic flair|url=http://ski-france.com/ski-region-Ski-area-Evasion-Mont-Blanc_39_3.html?offset=0|publisher=Ski France|access-date=16 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825085503/http://ski-france.com/ski-region-Ski-area-Evasion-Mont-Blanc_39_3.html?offset=0|archive-date=25 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On an area of {{cvt|8|km2}} there are 116 lifts providing access to 219 slopes totaling {{cvt|445|km}}.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
* The 445&nbsp;km of slopes are thus divided from hardest to easiest: {{cvt|35|km}} blacks, {{cvt|58|km}} reds, {{cvt|110|km}} blues and {{cvt|76|km}} greens.<ref name=bergfex>{{cite web|title=Ski resort Megeve|url=https://www.bergfex.com/megeve/|publisher=Bergfex|access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref> (See [[Alpine skiing#Ski trail ratings|ski trail rating]])
* The lifts: 67 [[platter lift]]s, 35 [[chairlift]]s and 13 [[gondola lift]]s and one [[Ski lift|cable car]].<ref name="skifrance"/>
In addition, the "Domaine Évasion Mont Blanc" includes 18 [[cross-country skiing]] trails totaling {{cvt|65|km}}.<ref name=freedomsnowsports>{{cite web|title=Ski resort information Megeve|url=https://www.book.ski/resorts/megeve/|publisher=Freedom Snowsports|access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref>
The first three [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships]] were held in Megève in 1976, 1977 and 1978.<ref name=cbcsports>{{cite web|title=Junior Figure Skating Championships|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/figureskating/world-junior-figure-skating-list-1.3497389|publisher=CBC Sports|access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref>
The Megève Polo Masters is an international [[polo]] tournament played on snow.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} The Snow Golf Cup is a unique [[golf]] tournament held on snow on Megève's Mont d'Arbois plateau.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}
As well as these winter sports, Megève also hosts winter events including an international curling tournament, a ski cross World Cup and a mogul skiing cup. There is also night skiing in February, a ski cross slope, an open-air ice rink, snowshoeing and dog sledding plus {{cvt|38|km}} of Nordic skiing in the region.<ref>Megève Winter Sports - http://www.skicollection.co.uk/Ski/Megeve.htm</ref>
===Summer sports===
Megève is also a popular summer holiday destination and is especially renowned for its [[golf]]ing opportunities.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}  It was the finishing town for stage 18 and the start town for stage 20 of the [[2016 Tour de France]].
==Twin towns==
[[Oberstdorf]] in Germany has, since 1970, been a [[Town twinning|twin town]] of Megève. It is also located in the mountains and famous for summer and winter holidays.
==Honorary citizens==
People awarded the [[honorary citizenship]] of Megève are:
{| class="wikitable" width="75%" style="font-size: 85%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: middle;"
! style="text-align: left;background:#B0C4DE"|Date
! width="240" style="text-align: left;background:#B0C4DE"|Name
! style="text-align: left;background:#B0C4DE"|Notes
|-
||3 April 2017||[[Albert II, Prince of Monaco|HSH Albert II, Prince of Monaco]] (1958&ndash;Present)|| [[Monarchy of Monaco|Prince of Monaco]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hellomonaco.com/officially-2/from-the-palace-princely-news/top-6-monaco-princely-news-prince-albert-ii-become-an-honorary-citizen-of-megeve/|title = Top-6 Monaco Princely news: Prince Albert II become an honorary citizen of Megève|date = 3 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ledauphine.com/haute-savoie/2017/03/28/le-prince-albert-ii-de-monaco-va-devenir-citoyen-d-honneur-de-la-commune|title=INSOLITE. Le prince Albert II de Monaco va devenir citoyen d'honneur de Megève}}</ref>
|-
|}
==Media==
Megève is the ski resort featured in the beginning of the [[1963 in film|1963]] film ''[[Charade (1963 film)|Charade]],'' where [[Audrey Hepburn]]'s Regina Lampert meets [[Cary Grant]]'s character.<ref>{{cite book | title=Audrey Hepburn | page=184 | isbn= 0-75281-540-7 | year=2001 | last1=Paris | first1=Barry }}</ref> It is also the title of one of the tracks by composer [[Henry Mancini]] on the [[Charade (1963 film)#Soundtrack|film's soundtrack]].
Megève was one of four [[FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|World Cup]] venues in the [[Alps]] featured in the [[1969 in film|1969]] film ''[[Downhill Racer]]'', starring [[Robert Redford]] and [[Gene Hackman]].<ref name=sundkid>{{cite journal|url=http://www.skinet.com/ski/1999/12/the-sundance-kid-the-making-of-downhill-racer|journal=[[SKI (magazine)|SKI]]|title=The Sundance Kid: the making of ''Downhill Racer''|last=Lund|first=Morton |date=November 1969 |access-date=January 26, 2014}}</ref><ref name=dhrctbzr>{{cite web|url=http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1297-downhill-racer-trailblazer |publisher=Criterion Collection |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |title=''Downhill Racer'': Trailblazer |agency=(Variety)|date=November 17, 2009 |access-date=January 26, 2014}}</ref>
{{Wide image|Megève 2500.jpg|800px|Panoramic view of Megève.}}
==See also==
* [[Communes of the Haute-Savoie department]]
* [[Megève Altiport]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Megève}}
{{wikivoyage|Megève}}
* [http://www.megeve.com/ Official tourism website of Megève.] {{in lang|fr|en}}
* [http://www.megeve.fr/ Official website of the municipality of Megève.] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.mageva.com/ Megève local people, tradition.] {{in lang|fr}}
{{Haute-Savoie communes}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Megeve}}
[[Category:Communes of Haute-Savoie]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in France]]