Discover Megève with Four Seasons, the Authentic Mountain Retreat

With sunny weather throughout the year and breathtaking mountainscapes, Megève is the perfect destination for a family holiday. Tradition and history brush shoulders in the picturesque heart of this village, treasured and promoted by the Rothschild family since the 1920s. An alpine destination truly unlike any other!
June 2, 2019,
Megeve, France

How did Megève became a go-to destination?

Everything started in 1920, when Noémie de Rothschild, wife of Baron Maurice de Rothschild decided to launch a French ski resort, inspired by her beloved St. Moritz. She fell in love with Megève and its traditional chalets, gentle slopes and brilliant alpine sunshine. Noémie de Rothschild wanted to improve Megève’s facilities and access in order to attract A-list guests and ensure the resort’s long-term success. Therefore, she decided to invest in the surrounding infrastructures and went on to create a ski lift, an airfield and an 18-hole golf course. Today, Megève is considered to be a go-to ski holiday destination, simply brimming with elegance, style and traditional charm. Les Chalets du Mont d’Arbois, Megève, A Four Seasons Hotel perfectly reflects this authentic atmosphere with a modern touch, thanks to the renovations overseen by Ariane de Rothschild hand-in-hand with designer Pierre-Yves Rochon.

If the walls (and slopes) could talk…

While Megève’s history has been written in part by the Rothschild family, many others have marked the village as well. Take the Allard family, who created the first fitted ski-pants in 1930, sold in their famous shop located downtown near the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church. These skin-tight, aerodynamic ski trousers–also called fuseau–were immediately adopted by ski champions like Emile Allais who later won three gold medals at the World Skiing Championships in Chamonix. In 1933, positioning itself as a pioneering luxury resort, the city inaugurated the iconic “red rocket”: the first cable car built solely for the use of skiers. This innovative way of reaching the slopes was a project of Noémie de Rothschild, inspired by the systems used by local farmers to bring equipment up the mountains and wood down into the village. Meanwhile, Megève was becoming a favourite with celebrities and many famous movies have been shot in this charming village such as Charade (1963), starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, and Robert Redford’s Downhill Racer (1969). Megève is now better known for its flourishing 18-hole golf course designed by English golf champion Henry Cotton and its four Michelin-starred restaurants.

Great spots for gourmets and foodies

With its 89 restaurants and many gourmet shops, Megève stands out from other ski resorts, offering something for everyone. A stroll through the pedestrian and cobblestone town-centre provides visitors with a wide variety of dining options, from local farm produce to elegant fine dining. Alongside the village’s traditional horse carriages, many bars and cafés dot the streets, perfect for afternoon tea or cocktails at night. The destination is home to four Michelin-starred restaurants, totalling 7 stars: quite an achievement for such a small, historic town! In fact, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts guests can treat themselves to two of these Michelin-starred restaurants right on the Domaine du Mont d’Arbois, at Le 1920 or at Prima, both located in our Megève properties.

The perfect place for a nature get-away

Only 45 minutes from Chamonix and the Mont-Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, Megève offers excellent skiing conditions to one and all. Covering 445 kilometres, the ski area includes 150 slopes, 80 lifts and cable cars and 170 snow cannons, for wonderful skiing throughout the season. Families and friends will find lovely gentle slopes and wide-open spaces with exceptional panoramas and views of the Mont Blanc as well as bright alpine sunshine. In addition to its ski slopes, Megève boasts forests, alpine farmhouses and sunny terraces overlooking neighbouring ranges, making it equally pleasant in spring and summer. With its cool weather and sunny days, this is the perfect place to enjoy outdoor activities like paragliding, hot-air ballooning or fishing. There are many family-friendly activities in Megève and the surrounding area. Nature lovers can spend their days exploring the outstanding landscapes and forests. For golfers, the renowned 18-hole course managed by Four Seasons will no doubt be a highlight of your stay.

Four Seasons’ unique outdoor experiences

Staying at Les Chalets du Mont d’Arbois, Megève, A Four Seasons Hotel means having access to a selection of amazing, nature-based experiences that make Megève and the Alps that much more magical. Join us and discover some of the region’s best kept secrets. Take off aboard the Four Seasons helicopter for a day exploring the most fabulous ski resorts in the Alps — Courmayeur in Italy, Flaine with its family-friendly slopes, Courchevel and its gourmet restaurants and party spots, or the vast ski area of Val d’Isère. Enjoy an exciting dog-sledding expedition with a professional musher. Try your hand snowmobiling in the fresh snow through a beautiful pine tree forest, just minutes from the hotel. This exciting experience becomes unique on the first electric snowmobiles in France, whether you want to ride solo, with your partner or as a family. Discover the thrills of a fat bike, with options for everyone, from beginners to expert riders. These electric bikes are especially designed to ride on snow. Float on the breeze aboard a hot air balloon over the hotel, taking in spectacular sunrise views of the Aravis Range and the Mont Blanc Massif. For a romantic outing, take a Polaris snow quad ride from the hotel up to the summit of Mont d’Arbois, and watch the sun rise over Mont Blanc while enjoying a hot drink on the terrace of the Ideal 1850 Restaurant. Round out your experience by joining the ski patrol out on the fresh snow as they open up the slopes for the day ahead.



PRESS CONTACTS
Anyssa Ghemari
Communication and Press Relations Executive
3001, Route Edmond de Rothschild
Megève, 74120
France