France

Where to rest: skiing in France

Passing the gallery

Material prepared: Yana Ivanchenko

Magazine: Platinum World Magazine

The French Alps are not only the infamous Courchevel. The wonderful sites of the Man of the Roller are historical Chamonix and Megeve, located in Haute-Savoie with an obligatory view of Mont Blanc. Neighboring skiing regions are easily reached by serpentine roads, expressways, or by helicopter. Heli-skiing is officially banned, but the rest of winter extreme entertainment in full. The total Mont Blanc ski pass for six days costs just over 200 euros

Le Lodge Park (100 Rue d'Arly, Megeve) - one of the best hotels in Megeve with 50 rooms of different categories, with fireplaces and hunting trophies. Club room with its red-green brand plaid cage, which walls are covered with, and a bathroom in a log runway costs 466-546 euros. Suite Prestige with fireplace and balcony - 1126 euros. A 75-meter Executive suite with a black cobblestone fireplace, a log round ceiling and a stylish bed with a headboard in a fur trim will cost 1956 euros per night in high season.

My Father's Farm (367 Rue du Cret, Megeve) - Mark Weir restaurant in the center of Megeve. The three prestigious Michelin guide stars awarded to him and 20 of the 20 possible points of the Gault Millau guide (not previously given to anyone!) Require an almost mandatory visit. Dinner from simple but very properly prepared Savoy dishes will cost 150-200 euros. In 2002, the chef, who is the owner, opened a four-star hotel with several cozy rooms at a restaurant (and not the other way round). Gourmet travelers are recommended!

The hamlet Albert 1st (38, route du Bouhet, Chamonix) - a magnificent hotel complex in Chamonix, consisting of three buildings. A room with a fireplace in Hôtel Albert (21 rooms) will cost 435-490 euros in the winter months, a luxury Prestige room with a fireplace in My Father's Farm (12 rooms) - 465-520 euros, apartments - 760-890 euros. Accommodation in an authentic Le Chalet Soli, surrounded by a magnificent park and offering guests only two separate bedrooms for one company - 1200-1400 euros per day.

The Albert 1st Restaurant This is the restaurant of the Albert Premier Hotel, recognized as one of the best in Chamonix. From the main hall there is a view of Mont Blanc with its current 4810.9 meters above sea level. The hotel’s cellar numbers 20,000 items of collection wines, of which only 950 are mentioned in the wine list; Cheval Blanc and Latour 1947 are among the best. The local produce of the winemakers of the Savoy region is another convincing argument to find time for tasting. Christian Matray, a restaurant sommelier, will help you make the right choice.

Annecy Another Venice, this time alpine, located 80 kilometers from Megève and a little further from Chamonix. At the intersection of the two canals there is a small prison, the tourist symbol of Annecy, where instead of cameras there is now a pub. Although it would be more correct to recognize this charming ancient city of the French Geneve - it is famous for its lake. In addition, it was Annecy who was once the residence of the counts of Geneva. Here you just need to walk, resting from extreme skiing. The hotel on a tiny peninsula in the middle of the lake has a casino with a bar, Le Poker Cafe, which provides dress code. On the beach restaurants with seafood.

No Escape (21 Rue de la Tour, Chamonix) is one of the newest and perhaps the most stylish lounge club in the center of Chamonix. Designed for 800 seats, it at the same time manages to be a good restaurant and a youth bar. But the main thing is the evenings accompanied by resident DJ Stefane Lando. The bar counter looks like an ice wall with tree branches frozen in it; chairs colored by Philip Stark; Chill-out tables are made of glass circles of the table-tops supported on wooden blocks.

White Valley ("White Valley") - the longest and most impressive road for descent on an unprepared slope, but not the route. The French do not designate the route on the maps and insist on descents only with a guide. The most important thing is to “climb down” along the steep ridge to the beginning of the path. Then you can enjoy all 22 kilometers. At the end of the path is a 120-meter tunnel in the ice as additional entertainment. From the moment of departure from Chamonix to return to the valley, the descent takes an average of four to six hours - depending on the chosen route. Night skiing with a guide will cost 170-250 euros for everyone who has risked.

Barn (Rue Park City, Courchevel 1850) - disco-bar, it’s a club, too well known to the regulars of the 1850th Courchevel. Tired of the European democracy of the above resorts, you can come here to the neighboring region of Trois Vallee, not only for one-day skiing, but also for après-ski. You can get there by air from the center of Chamonix, where there is a helipad, to a private airfield in the center of Courchevel. The club hosts theme parties and artists performing in Paris cabaret.

LEAVE ANSWER