Apt.n°31, Duel

apt. N°31, DUEL

Welcome to DUEL, apartment n°31 of the iconic Bel Air residence, nestled in the peaceful hamlet of Le Lavanchy in Montriond, just minutes from Lake Montriond and the slopes of Avoriaz.

DUEL apartment n°31 belongs to the most cinematic and mysterious part of the Bel Air universe, the “Fantastique” collection, one of the three thematic worlds imagined within the residence alongside “Les Secrets” (inspired by alpine legends and forgotten mountain tales) and “Dassault” (a tribute to aviation, speed, and the golden age of alpine flight).

Here, everything pays tribute to the extraordinary atmosphere of the legendary Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival, one of the most surreal and fascinating cinematic events Europe has ever known.

And among all the cult films celebrated during this unforgettable era, few captured raw tension and psychological suspense quite like Steven Spielberg’s legendary masterpiece: DUEL.

Released in 1971, long before Spielberg became the director of Jaws, E.T., or Jurassic Park, DUEL became an instant cult phenomenon. The film tells the terrifying story of a lone driver pursued endlessly across deserted roads by an anonymous truck whose driver is never fully seen.

Minimalist. Oppressive. Hypnotic.

The film fascinated audiences because it transformed something ordinary, a road, a vehicle, a journey, into pure psychological tension.

At the Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival during the 1970s, films like DUEL perfectly embodied the strange and electrifying spirit of the event.

At that time, Avoriaz itself already felt unreal.

Built high above the clouds with futuristic wooden architecture emerging directly from the snow, the resort looked more like a science-fiction set than a traditional ski village. Cars disappeared entirely from the streets during winter, replaced by horse-drawn sleighs gliding silently through the snow while enormous snowstorms swallowed the surrounding cliffs and forests.

The atmosphere during the festival became legendary.

Actors, directors, musicians, journalists, and celebrities from around the world arrived in Morzine and Avoriaz wrapped in fur coats, mirrored sunglasses, leather boots, and extravagant après-ski fashion. Helicopters landed directly on snowy plateaus while film screenings continued late into the night beneath neon lights and falling snow.

Some evenings, heavy storms isolated the resort completely from the valley below, trapping artists, actors, and guests together in what many later described as a dreamlike cinematic bubble suspended in the mountains.

The festival quickly became famous not only for the films themselves, but also for its surreal ambiance and unforgettable stories.

Local legends still tell of actors disappearing anonymously into village cafés after screenings, directors improvising parties until sunrise, and celebrities wandering through snowy streets trying to escape photographers hidden beneath snowbanks.

Over the years, the festival welcomed some of the greatest names in cinema history:

• Steven Spielberg
  
• David Cronenberg
  
• Roman Polanski
  
• Brian De Palma
  
• Harrison Ford
  
• Isabelle Adjani
  
• Catherine Deneuve
  
• Christopher Lee
  
• Jeremy Irons
  
• Clint Eastwood
  
• And many more icons of fantastic and psychological cinema
  
  The apartment DUEL was imagined as a subtle tribute to that era — an atmosphere balancing mystery, tension, elegance, retro-futurism, and alpine refuge.
  
  Inside, warm lighting, textured materials, deep tones, noble wood, and carefully curated design details recreate the intimate feeling of a hidden cinematic retreat lost somewhere between mountain modernism and psychological thrillers of the 1970s.
  
  Bel Air itself remains one of the rare surviving witnesses of that fascinating period.
  
  Originally built at the end of the 19th century, the residence was entirely redesigned during the 1960s by architect René Faublée, also known for the famous chapel of Avoriaz. Inspired by Neo-Brutalism, he created a daring raw-concrete structure unlike anything else in the valley — a bold architectural vision still standing today.
  
  While its exterior may surprise at first glance, the interiors have been entirely reimagined with elegance and contemporary refinement while preserving the soul of this extraordinary building.
  
  Designed as an intimate alpine cocoon for a couple, with or without a child, DUEL offers far more than accommodation:
  it offers a journey into the strange golden age of alpine cinema.
  
  
• Fully equipped kitchen: stovetop, oven, refrigerator, kettle, Nespresso coffee machine, washing machine, and all essentials for cooking at home
  
• Elegant bathroom: walk-in shower, sink, toilet
  
• Comfortable sleeping area: king-size bed, custom furnishings, Smart TV with Netflix and live channels
  
• Premium hotel-quality linen included: beds prepared before arrival and towels provided
  
• Exceptional location: just minutes from Lake Montriond, forests, waterfalls, ski lifts, hiking trails, and directly opposite the free shuttle stop serving Avoriaz and Morzine
  
  The free shuttle stopping directly outside the residence provides easy access to:
  
• Lake Montriond
  
• The Ardent waterfall
  
• The Ardent cable car and the Portes du Soleil ski area
  
• Avoriaz resort
  
• Morzine village center
  
  
  A hidden cinematic refuge suspended between brutalist architecture, cult film history, alpine mystery, and timeless mountain elegance.