Megève and Courchevel
A world of luxury and a paradise of immaculate white snow…
Winter is upon us and the call of the mountains echoes in our ears. It’s time to strap on our skis and get some real fresh air. The leading lights in the Alps, Megève and Courchevel open the gates to a paradise of immaculate white snow…
Off we go to Savoy and Upper Savoy, where Megève and Courchevel practise the fine art of hospitality. The first has managed to preserve its mountain architecture and boasts a magnificent village with a medieval atmosphere, a model of authenticity. Together with Chamonix, it is part of the very closed club known as the “Best of the Alps”. With its picturesque chalets, lively streets and charming churches, Courchevel embodies Savoyard life in all its splendour. Throughout the winter season, both resorts welcome their French and foreign guests in total harmony, obeying one single rule : pleasure, or rather, pleasures, for here they don’t come in single doses…
As far as the eye can see
Choosing either one of these destinations is a matter of simple motivation : skimming over the snow. Downhill or cross-country skiing, snowboards, surfing, toboggans… Whatever your favourites, the vast stretches of snow offered by both resorts will see you enjoy them to the full. With Mont-Blanc in the background, the prestigious Megève has a very open skiing domain in the form of an amphitheatre. With 200 slopes totalling over 500 km and altitudes that peak out at 2350 m, it guarantees real diversity and, of course, top-notch installations. This winter, the twenty ski-runs of La Giettaz are linked with Le Christomet on the Jaillet side. And a shuttle now connects Megève with Praz sur Arly and thus all the ski-slopes of Le Val d’Arly. Courchevel offers five different altitudes. At 1100 and 1300 metres, the hamlets are called Saint-Bon and Le Praz. Families opt for Courchevel 1550, youngsters head for Courchevel 1650, and Courchevel 1850 is known as the most elegant. With La Tania and Méribel-Mottaret, this famous resort is part of the Les Trois Vallées. Together, they offer 600 km of ski-runs over 2000 m of mountainsides (between 1300 and 3230 m), totalling 335 ski-slopes and winning the distinction of being the largest skiing domain in the world.
Comfort and quality service
In charming or luxury hotels, accommodation meets the expectations of a demanding clientele. At Courchevel, most of the hotels overlook the slopes, enabling their guests to leave the premises with skis strapped to their feet. Among the most prestigious, the Hôtel des Trois Vallées, Hôtel des Neiges, L’Anapurna and L’Aiglon are “must” addresses. At the heart of the resort, the Hôtel des Trois Vallées keeps its promise of charm, comfort and refinement. The rooms are spacious and bask in a romantic ambiance, while the restaurant proposes subtle gastronomy. A well-being centre, hammam, sauna and Kanebo beauty salon add an extra “relaxation touch”. The Hôtel des Neiges which, like the Hôtel des Trois Vallées, belongs to the Luxury Mountains Hotel chain, offers amenities that are much the same with slight variations. Right at the top of the slopes, L’Anapurna proposes 82 rooms, suites and apartments in classic Savoyard style, with wood quite naturally as the predominant feature. It boasts a sumptuous heated pool surrounded by huge windows giving an unimpeded view of the skiing domain. A jacuzzi, two saunas, two hammans, a beautician and physiotherapist guarantee well-deserved relaxation. Top-notch comfort is also laid on at L’Aiglon where 15 of the 34 guest-rooms are equipped with balneo bathrooms. The decor is cheerful, colourful and personalized for each room, and the restaurant offers refined cuisine.
In Megève, the Compagnie des Hôtels de Montagne manages three sumptuous addresses : Les Fermes de Marie, Le Lodge Park and Le Mont-Blanc. A hamlet of authentic Savoyard farmhouses, meticulously rebuilt, the first is a really unusual hotel. Its wood panelling, regional furnishings and warm lounges make it a world apart. A stone’s throw from the ski-lifts, the village square and the new Casino, Le Lodge Park with its cosy charm and very tasteful decor flaunts an original trapper atmosphere. Le Mont-Blanc is known as the doyen of Megève’s hotels. A real legend with rooms on different themes (“21e Arrondissement de Paris” as seen by Cocteau, or a setting for Vadim’s version of “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”), it is on intimate terms with the mountain peaks. In a different spirit, but just as commendable, Le Chalet Saint-Philippe and its hamlet is composed of three very classy chalets where each guest-room and apartment offers unique design.
Flavours and savours
Up in the mountains, gastronomy complements the joys of the snow. Goats’ cheese and “tomme”, cold cuts and Alpine meat, fish and seafood, chocolate… So many gourmet suggestions, and tables where they can be sampled. Megève boasts 91 restaurants, Courchevel about 60. Those with Michelin stars satisfy the finest palates, and many restos in Megève are listed in the Gault-Millau and Michelin Guides, the Bottin Gourmand or Pudlo France. Accomplished chefs include Olivier Bardoux at the Chalet du Mont d’Arbois, Grégory Chamard at the Fer à Cheval, Serge Léonhard at the Auberge de la Cote 2000, Emmanuel Renaut at Les Flocons de Sel (1 Michelin star)… Not an exhaustive list. Courchevel features French cuisine but also regional specialities and world cuisine. Tapas at Seizena, Italian at La Cendrée, Savoy recipes at La Cloche. For refined palates : Le Bateau Ivre and Le Chabichou. At Seizena, Jean-Pierre Jacob concocts scrambled eggs with truffles, Saint-Jacques with groundnuts… In Alpine decor at Le Chabichou, one of Savoy’s best addresses, the inventive cuisine is both traditional and original : try the lobster salad with Saint-Jacques scallops. An entire season is not enough to taste all the moments of real bliss conjured up by Megève and Courchevel !
By Edwige Giordano - photos : press
