Francisque Pierre Joseph Borrione was born on February 11^th, 1913 in Lyon and died on May 2^nd, 1974 in Aime. A member of the Resistance and amateur archaeologist, he was also the founder of the La Plagne ski resort. The son of Firmin and Gabrielle Borrione, he arrived in Aime at the age of 6, after his father’s death and his mother’s remarriage to Dr Adrien Cérutti.

Carrier
After completing a thesis on ectopic pregnancy in 1937, Dr Pierre Borrione set up his medical practice in Aime in 1938. 

In 1953, he vaccinated the population of Bellentre and Mâcot against polio with the Mérieux Laboratories vaccine, a first in France. 

Pierre Borrione was a medical expert for the courts and treasurer of the medical association.

WWII French Resistance
En 1941, sous le pseudonyme “Martin Hugues”, il organise l’Armée Secrète à Aime au sein du réseau Marco Polo. Il soigne les résistants, rédige les certificats de complaisance d’exemption au Service du Travail Obligatoire qui permettent de limiter les départs depuis la Savoie. Ces réfractaires du STO forment le noyau central du maquis d’Aime en 1942.

He was awarded the Resistance Medal, the Legion of Honour, and the 1939/1945 War Cross. He is an Officer of the Order of Academic Palms.

Founding La Plagne
In 1959, Pierre Borrione was elected mayor of Aime. Anticipating the decline of the valley and, in particular, the economic impact of the closure of the mines, Pierre Borrione launched a project to create a winter sports resort. He was put in touch with Michel Bezançon, who would be the architect and urban planner for 25 years, by Maurice Michaud, a French civil engineer responsible for tourism development in the Alps.

The first survey was carried out in April 1960 by local dignitaries and ski champion Emile Allais, who was commissioned by the authorities. Pierre Borrione was behind the creation of the Syndicat Intercommunal de La Grande Plagne (SIGP), which brings together the municipalities of Aime, Bellentre, Macôt and Longefoy.

The first work on La Plagne resort began in the spring of 1961. Pierre Borrione gave the resort’s inaugural speech at Mâcot Town Hall on Friday December 22nd, 1961

Archaeology
A member of the Académie de La Val d’Isère, Dr Pierre Borrione initiated excavations in the Aime area, particularly on Saint-Sigmond hill. In 1968, he founded the Société d’Histoire et d’Archéologie d’Aime (SHAAIME).

Two years later, he turned the Saint-Sigismond Chapel into the Archaeological Museum: ‘Des pierres et des hommes’ (Stones and Men). This museum has been awarded the ‘Musée de France’ label.

Political Career
he was town mayor of Aime from 1959 to 1971.