planning France's winter sports industry and when local landowners found out that Boissonnas was a billionaire they threatened to block the building of the access road to the resort until they received adequate compensation. The result was a three-year delay and huge cost overruns, and led to greater state involvement in French ski resort development. By the time the resort was opened on 17 January 1969 it had probably cost Boissonnas the equivalent of around $250 million from his personal fortune at 2005 prices. The site is divided into two areas which are joined by two free lifts. The upper area, Flaine Forêt, at an altitude of 1700 m, consists of a number of apartment buildings named after constellations, the Éric et Sylvie Boissonnas Auditorium, shops, offices and restaurants. The lower area, Flaine Forum, at an altitude of 1600 m, has more restaurants, shops, bars and accommodation. The resort boasts a wealth of monumental works of art - "La Tête de Femme" by Pablo Picasso, "Le Boqueteau" by Jean Dubuffet, and "Les Trois Hexagones" by Victor Vasarely. New developments Hameau de Flaine is just outside the main resort and in between this and Flaine is "Flaine Montsoleil", a new development which has the same 'ski-in, ski-out' feel as the main resort but constructed in a more traditional alpine style. More apartments like Montsoleil are going in just above the Hameau next to the golf course. Opened in 2011, it has been called "Le Refuge de Golf" (The Golf Refuge). Location Flaine is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Geneva Airport, approximately 3 hours drive from Lyon, and 30 km from the A 40 motorway (l'Autoroute Blanche). It is close to resorts Les Houches, Les Contamines, large ski area Chamonix-Mont-Blanc as well as the Portes du Soleil region — notably resorts Les Gets and Morzine. Trips to Italy via the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Courmayeur are also possible. Bus services are available several times a day to Taninges in the Giffre Valley (where resorts Morillon and Samoëns are situated) where buses to Geneva and Chamonix can be accessed. The bus service is run by Transdev Alpbus. Skiing Ski terrain There is skiing for most in Flaine, as the resort enjoys a particular reputation as being all rounded. The most notable runs in Flaine include Styx (Black); le Diamant Noir (black); Serpentine (blue/red); Fred (red); Tourmaline (blue) and Méphisto (blue/red).