Discover the work of sawing wood in an authentic sawmill, restored by members of the association “La Battante Morzinoise”! In the good smell of sawdust, the paddle wheel, the cogs and the swinging saw. An ancestral heritage
Have you heard of “la battante”? That’s the name the old-timers of Morzine used to give their sawmills, powered by the energy of the mountain streams. “La Battante Morzinoise” invites you to discover the world of the sawmill—a true world of insiders! Gaze at the waterwheel, admire the gleaming machinery, and listen to the song of the saw—a sound that accompanied scenes of life in Morzine for centuries... In a world of planks, sawdust, cast iron, and steel, a member of the association will reveal all the secrets of this quintessentially mountain-region machinery.
Join our guided summer tours, available in three formats:
Free admission with a voluntary donation at the end of the tour, at the visitors’ discretion
- By registration: Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. with a video screening: online registration required
Screening of an 18-minute video on the theme:
“MORZINE 1840–1990 / 150 Years of Sawmill History Linked to the Development of Tourism” in the hall of the former Pléney power plant at the entrance to Dérêches Park
Watch the sawyers at work
The Battante Loop Trail, offering views of the outdoor waterwheel and the interior machinery
Option to explore the trail on your own on foot, located between Place de l’Eglise and La Battante, to discover how water power drives the sawmill without the use of electricity.
- Free admission on Fridays all day from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the sawmill in operation
- Organized group tours available upon prior request / contact labattante@orange.fr
Free access.
Office de Tourisme de Morzine - 16/06/2026
www.morzine-avoriaz.com/
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Phone : 04 50 74 72 72
Website : https://labattante.fr/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MorzineAvoriaz