French Alps

The French Alps are one of the greatest destinations in France for travellers who love nature, as the area is packed with towering peaks, clear lakes and verdant forests. Outdoor adventures here are virtually endless, with opportunities for biking, hiking and mountain climbing, and that’s just the activities during the summer. When the winter snowfall comes, the French Alps become a one-of-a-kind ski destination that draws in beginners and experts from all over the world to try out the slopes.

Ski resorts are prominent throughout the region, with some popular options including Portes du Soleil , Chamonix and Megeve. If you’re more interested in simply relaxing in the natural splendour, you may find spa towns like Evian-les-Bain and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains more to your liking. Given the diversity of things to do in this region, many travellers split their holiday between activities like skiing and relaxing in the refreshing spas, since experiencing both gives you the best the French Alps offer.

Both in winter and summer, the alpine areas of Central Europe offer destinations and activities for everyone.The eastern part of France and especially the Alps area, shared with Switzerland and Italy, captivates all its visitors. From winter sports enthusiasts to mountain hikers and nature photography aficionados, the French Alps never disappoint. The range of activities to do in this area is as endless as the number of spectacular destinations.

Nothing stands still in the French Alps, with the area constantly striving to embrace technology to help reinvent itself and the infrastructure that serves it. In Chamonix, for instance, a near €500 milllion, 40-year pledge from the Compagnie du Mont Blanc has already helped create three new gondolas (cable car transport for 10 people in each cabin), two chair lifts and two beginner areas, with further developments to come.

While skiing is the predominant activity, other mountain sports including rock climbing, hill walking, lake swimming, trail-running, paragliding and even sleeping in refuges are all available. Then there’s the ‘après ski’ and fewer places in the world can help you replenish your energy better than the French Alps, with its delicious and authentic cuisine.

Landscape

With the peak of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, in the French Alps, the terrain is unashamedly wild and rugged. The area’s premium resorts range in elevation, from the picturesque Megève being one of the mid-altitude resorts, through to the likes of lofty Val d’Isère. But the Alps are more than just peaks, with a plethora of lakes to explore in the area, offering excellent hiking and wild swimming opportunities.

Education

The French Alps are primarily about getting away from it all. But resorts are increasingly trying to become year-round destinations meaning the number of people living there full-time is rising. International schools are available in the Alps, with places such as SEK International School, near Megève, among the alpine institutions available. For universities, the Université Grenoble Alpes is among the 10 best-ranked further education institutions in France.

Activities and Entertainment

The French Alps are undoubtedly the European capital of skiing and snowboarding, making this the biggest draw for people seeking a property here. But even devout skiers uncover a vast array of other activities on offer, from snowshoe walking to hill hiking, rafting through to swimming, and ice climbing through to mountain biking. The area has even become a trail running hub, with the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc drawing competitors from across the globe. Hot air ballooning and helicopter flights give unrivalled and uninterrupted views across the French Alps, while back on terra firma, golf is popular in the area with courses in places such as Megève, Méribel and Chamonix.

More everyday amenities are also available, with many resorts and towns offering cinemas, shops, restaurants and bars to explore.

Art and Culture

Mountain towns and villages have been occupied for centuries and evidence of their past is plentiful across the French Alps. From medieval castles and churches, such as Châteaux de Menthon-St-Bernard – supposedly the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle – and the near-1,000-year-old Châteaux de Joux near Métabief, examples of outstanding architecture are abundant.

The most prominent museums are largely located in Grenoble, however, smaller towns do offer some captivating museums, including Besançon’s Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie, the country’s oldest public museum founded in 1694 and Chamonix’s Musée des Cristaux, which showcases crystals and native gems.

Food and Drink

From a quick jambon beurre while strolling through a resort, to steak-frites on the balcony of an Alpine mountain restaurant peering down on the snowy scene, to the luxury surroundings of a Michelin-starred restaurant sampling just-caught lake fish, the Alps truly has it all. The area’s outstanding produce includes fish, cured meats and sausages, while its exquisite range of cheeses and ways of eating them – fondue, raclette and tartiflette – make for unforgettable dining experiences.

Countless pâtisseries ensure a steady supply of sweet treats, with the choux pastry chocolate religieuse, and the aptly-named Mont Blanc, a meringue dessert with chestnut purée, favourites of the area.

The French Alps encompass some of the country’s most popular wine regions, such as Rhône-Alpes and Franche-Comté, making some of France’s best wine readily available, while génépi, a traditional herbal liqueur, is also popular in the Alpine region.

Accessibility

The nearest commercial airports to the French Alps are Geneva, in Switzerland, Lyon or Chambéry, in France, or Turin in Italy. Smaller aircraft and helicopters can use the altiports located throughout the Alps, such as at Courchevel, Megève and Val d’Isère. Alternatively, the high-speed TGV train service and Eurostar reach Bourg St Maurice, close to the Italian border in the Savoie.

Chamonix

The ideal destination to start with might be Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Why? you ask, this Haute-Savoie town is considered the capital of the French Alps. The town is also is the starting point for tons of alpine activities and attractions.

Chamonix will fulfil your expectations for the iconic picturesque alpine mountain village. Its architecture is typical of the region: half-timbered houses, charming streets overlooking the immense mountains…

Of course, Chamonix is also one of the great capitals of alpine skiing. It’s also famous for après-ski, that is, the activities and plans that take place after a day on the slopes. There are plenty of walking tours and fun things to do in the afternoon if you’ve still got the energy. And once in Chamonix, what is there to do? Well for one, a visit to L’Aiguille du Midi, the highest viewpoint in the French Alps, is an absolute must. It’s located at 3,842 meters (12,600 feet) above sea level!

The best way to reach the summit of Mont Blanc is to take the L’Aiguille du Midi cable car from Chamonix. This is also perfect for hikers, given that the cable car also stops at le Plan de l’Aiguille on its way from Chamonix to L’Aiguille du Midi. Numerous hiking trails begin at this mid-point cable car station, which is located at an altitude of 2,310 meters (7,575 feet).

For those who wish to enjoy the panoramic views of L’Aiguille du Midi with a private tour guide, be sure to check out this private excursion from Chamonix.

In addition to the spectacular hiking trails, Mont-Blanc offers a variety of other activities. An exciting alternative to hiking is visiting some of the various viewpoints where you’ll get breathtaking views and be able to photograph the incredible alpine landscapes.

Another way to enjoy Mont-Blanc is to do it from the air. To do so, we recommend checking out this unforgettable helicopter ride over Mont Blanc from the town of Megève.

MEGEVE

Megeve, a resort influenced by the Rothschild family in the 1920s and much appreciated by high society, is also a village in Haute-Savoie whose parish was created in 523. Megeve is an ideal destination for lovers of family holidays in an authentic setting . The proximity of the Mont-Blanc and the panorama offered since the Monts d’Arbois make it a destination highly appreciated by connoisseurs.

Here below is a bit of history, that of a village in Haute-savoie with a unique destiny.

A bit of history

The history of Megeve was first marked by sorrowful events, like many neighboring villages: an epidemic of the black plague in 1349, a bloody battle between local lords in 1355, a new epidemic of the plague in 1360. The population of Megeve, estimated to more than 3 000 souls in 1339, is divided by two and will return to its level of 1339 in the 16th century. An episode to note, however, the Prior of Megeve, Aymon de Chissé, becomes Bishop of Grenoble.

Until the 20th century its religious heritage developed and increased considerably, the territory of the commune was covered with chapels, two secular schools were opened in 1795, two others in 1853 and 1856 in the hamlet of Maz. In 1867 a post office was opened, in 1881 a road linking Sallanches, in the valley, to Megeve, which will then be connected to Albertville 10 years later. In 1902 electric lighting arrived in Megeve.

It was not until the first World War that skiing was mentioned in Megeve, thanks to an article by the journalist Mathilde Maige-Lefournier published in the magazine of the French Alpine Club, which praised Megeve and its ski area, which was then the playgroud of locals for ski touring. 1914 saw the first ski competition held in Megeve.

The Rothschild epic tale

It all began in the aftermath of the First World War with Baroness Noémie de Rothschild, a mountain enthusiast, who frequented the Swiss resort of St. Moritz where she experiences the European aristocracy. In St. Moritz, she met the Germans, and in particular Baron Krupp, a great gunner for the German army. Patriote, Baroness de Rothschild decides to establish a ski resort in France that will allow the aristocracy to enjoy the mountain without having to rub shoulders with the hereditary enemy, the Germans.

She finally chooses Megeve, seduced by the exceptional view that offers the plateau of Mont d’Arbois. Together with her husband, Maurice de Rothschild, she built the Mont d’Arbois called the “Palace des Neiges” in 1921, a flamboyant building planted on hundreds of hectares and equipped with an ice rink. They are quickly met with success, the King of the Belgians Albert the First anjoyed a stay in Megeve and was soon followed by the French aristocracy. We then used to skate up the slope with the aid of small snow tracks.

The Palace des Neiges is not the only building built by the Rothschilds, other hotels dot the Mont d’Arbois, in 1926 another major construction is added to the complex, it is a modern chalet, modeled on traditional chalets but more imposing in size and offering its guests a maximum of comfort and a vision of the landscape allowed by numerous openings and generous dimensions. Equipped with a ski-room, the chalet perfectly prefigures the integrated constructions that are still made in most French resorts. The architect Henry Jacques Le Même and the Baroness de Rothschild were particularly visionary! Even today, the Chalet du Mont d’Arbois welcomes its guests and combines spa, swimming pool, antiques, old paintings and high-end cuisine to deploy an art de vivre worthy of the Baroness.

The successive generations of the Rothschild family will remain faithful to Megeve, imbuing their brand with the development of what would become a resort of international reputation.

The birth of a ski resort

In parallel with the development of the Mont d’Arbois Megeve builds a skating rink in 1929, a cinema in 1931 and, in 1933, the first cable car in France dedicated to skiing, the Rochebrune cable car. The creation of the tapered pants by the tailor Armond Allard brings additional attention to Megeve; the tapered ski pants will remain the reference until the 1960s.

In 1934 a new cable car was completed on the Mont d’Arbois. As for sports, Megeve stands out: after the creation of the Sports Club of Megeve in 1931, the hockey team becomes champion of France and especially, a child of the country, Emile Allais, succeeds in his ski career.

In 1936 Emile Allais won the bronze medal in combination with the Olympic Games in Garmisch, Germany, becoming the first French Olympic medalist in alpine skiing. In 1937 he won three gold medals at the Chamonix World Championships.

The second world war brings the activity to a halt. After the liberation, development resumed with the creation of the Tourist Office and the construction of a casino. In 1951, the Emile Allais Cup was created, an international downhill competition. A gondola was put into service in 1952, the Jaillet gondola.

The spotlight is on Megeve, several films are filmed there and Adrien Duvillard, another child of the country, becomes world champion of descent in 1963. Megeve is then considered as the Saint-Tropez of the snows. The resort hosts many events, artistic and sporting including curling and ball-trap. An air link Paris-Megeve is established in 1973.

In 1986 a new ropeway, Rocharbois, was inaugurated allowing the link between the massifs of Rochebrune and Mont d’Arbois. The cultural development follows, with the opening of several museums and the classification of several buildings to the Historic Monuments. Megeve has more than 5 000 permanent inhabitants.

Megeve has been awarded several prestigious status, such as the Marianne d’Or (Sustainable Development), integration into the international network Best of the Alps (with Chamonix, Zermatt, Davos or Saint-Moritz.) and three stars Michelin for the now famous Marc Veyrat and his restaurant La Ferme de mon Père. The station also gets 4 flowers in the competition of towns and villages in bloom, a first at this altitude.

In the space of a few years 6 hotels received the classification of 5 stars including the mythical Chalet du Mont d’Arbois. A second restaurant is distinguished by the 3 stars of the Michelin guide, the Flocons de Sel by Emmanuel Renault.

Megeve ski area is now an integral part of the Evasion Mont Blanc ski area, which offers 445 km of pistes with the resorts of Combloux, La Giettaz, Saint-Gervais, Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce and Les Contamines-Montjoie.

In addition to its world-class skiing opportunities, Megeve offers a variety of other activities for visitors to enjoy. The village itself is a charming place to explore, with its cobbled streets, traditional wooden chalets, and elegant boutiques. There are also numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants where visitors can relax and sample delicious French cuisine.

During the summer months, Megeve transforms into a paradise for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. There are countless hiking and mountain biking trails that wind through the surrounding mountains, offering stunning views of the valley below. Visitors can also try their hand at golfing, horseback riding, or even hot air ballooning

For those looking for a more relaxing experience, the village’s luxury spas offer a range of treatments and therapies to help visitors unwind and rejuvenate. And of course, no trip to Megeve would be complete without a visit to the famous Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest peak, which can be reached by cable car from the nearby town of Chamonix.

Whether you visit in the winter or summer, Megeve is sure to enchant you with its beauty, luxury, and charm. It truly is a magical destination in the midst of the mountains.

In summary; Megeve, whose name means “in the midst of waters” is in fact an enchanting mountain resort situated among two rivers in Haute Savoie, south-eastern France. It is the perfect union between a luxury ski resort and a picturesque village of the Alpi, with its authentic charme. Originally it hosted the French aristocracy, it remains one of the favourite ski resorts for Parisian jet set, that is the reason why Jean Cocteau named Megeve “XXI arrondissement de Paris”.

As destination of international elite tourism, Megeve boats 9 five star Hotels, 5 award winning restaurants, Casinò, many luxury SPA and an altiport. It is located at only 48 km of distance from Geneve, 137 km from Lyon and 200 km from Milan.