It was in 1981 that Jocelyne and Jean-Louis Sibuet set off on their adventure in the hospitality business. Back then, it started with a small boutique hotel in Megève, a winter hideaway village in the French Alps. Today, they hallmark the living in their many passionate establishments. Haute Living has visited the legendary Les Fermes de Marie, Des Dromonts and Altapura. Each different in concept and design, but boasting a grand living factor.
Les Fermes de Marie – Megève
Located in the Mont-Blanc region of Haute-Savoie, the village of Megève owes its name to its location between two rivers, derived from the Celtic words Mag (house) and Eva (water). Megève immediately impresses visitors with its calm and timeless authenticity. A bewitching charm bathes the narrow streets that lead to the village square and the church steeple with its green bronze domes. The hotel Les Fermes de Marie is laid out as a small hamlet of high mountain pasture farms several centuries old, lying in a 4-acre park in the heart of Megève. The nine interlinked chalets form a haven. Each of the farms was dismantled, every piece of wood was numbered, and then reassembled on concrete frames in line with the heritage and the traditions of the area. In this timeless retreat away from it all, the charm of the decoration is only equaled by the soul of every piece of furniture and the patina of every object. The comfort of the 70 highly individual rooms and suites is based on traditional simplicity and subtle refinement, but incorporates modern life as well.
Interior Design
The warmth of the old wood is matched by that of an attentive and ever-personal staff. The impeccable quality and range of services on offer mark the personality of a hotel like no other. Here the notion of service takes on its full meaning. Le Restaurant Traditionnel, located in the heart of the main chalet, proposes fresh cuisine for every season, with locally sourced ingredients, and an authentic and refined menu, with dishes such as roasted free-range chicken with black truffle cream sauce and Beaufort cheese gratin, Féra fish from nearby alpine lakes grilled with fresh-churned butter, or the iconic dish of Les Fermes de Marie Coquillettes with truffle shavings and Sauget ham… not to mention the extraordinary dessert buffet! Besides restaurant Alpin, there is also a Spa, the very first of the Pure Altitude Spas. Its swimming pool and the 17 treatment cabins provide voluptuous après-ski care, and special “well-being” stays can be organized.
Hotel des Dromont – Avoriaz
Ski runs that seemingly stretch out to infinity, an abundance of sunshine, snow fall galore: welcome to Avoriaz, a snowy paradise for skiers! Posed like an eagle’s nest on a cliff of shale, perched high at 1800m altitude, in this environment of stunning beauty, the alpine resort offers a full field of incredible games for the whole family. Born of an ecological challenge before its time, this carless resort where the roads are ski slopes, you connect to tribe mode and put you in tune with this avant-garde place, fully imagined for winter sports.
Nestled in the heart of the historic Dromonts neighbourhood in Avoriaz, the Hôtel des Dromonts style is organic, with a layout that splays out like a fan, affording panoramic views across the breathtaking landscape, and an innovative “tavaillon roof” style siding covered in cedar shingles, these wooden shingles are typical of Savoyard roofs, giving the hotel its signature pinecone shape. The Dromonts’ square became the historical heart of the resort and it is undoubtedly its unique atmosphere, which inspired the creation of the Avoriaz Fantasy Film Festival. The festival jury deliberates there, directors find new inspiration and the paparazzi stake out the stairs to capture the stars of the festival before the horse-drawn sleighs whisk them off to private viewings in exclusive screening rooms… Among them Steven Spielberg, David Cronenberg, Brian De Palma, David Lynch, Luc Besson and many more.
Facillities
The legendary Hôtel Des Dromonts remains nearly 50 years after its creation a contemporary architectural marvel, as breathtaking as the snowy peaks that surround it. The audacious elements of varied levels and revolutionary lines are revisited in a cozy and warm spirit, enhancing the sixties design style. Everything was done to keep the original spirit of the place with a focus on natural, local materials… Exterior shingles, a signature-style specific to the resort, bright pops of color, slate stones, the Hôtel des Dromonts combines modern comfort while highlighting the warm, rounded and peppy style of the sixties. The hotel lounge with its wooden walkway and large, open, brick fireplace invites guests to bask in its warmth on built-in benches, sharing a hot chocolate or mulled wine after a day on the slopes. As for the 28 rooms and 6 suites, they have been designed as “ski chamber*” chic and comfortable like a soft nest, optimized and adapted to the needs of the skier, in a 60s Mod style revisited in cosy fabrics and plush carpets for an intimate and functional atmosphere. The slate, prevail in the bathrooms, a final touch essential to recreating the atmosphere of the surrounding mountains.
Altapura – Val Thorens
Starting in 1969, the exceptional site of Val Thorens was the setting for a grandscale, megalomaniac
Project. Its growth reflects the appeal of Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe, which in 40 years has become the Mecca of European skiing! At an altitude of 2300 m, Val Thorens is rightly recognized for the unparalleled quality of its snow, guaranteed from November through May. Its location offers an impressive amount of sunshine and snowfall, is surrounded by 6 glaciers and 6 peaks above 3000 m.
In the heart of the largest ski area in the world at an altitude of 2300 m, hotel Altapura fulfills the dreams of winter sports enthusiasts and those who love great expanses of white. The latest equipment is available from the hotel’s Skishop by Goitschel, your lift pass awaits you at the reception, a ski room provides direct access onto the slopes, ski professionals present in the hotel lounges reveal legendary off-piste spots, specific Spa treatments for sportsmen and women, photos of snowboarding, of the dazzling mountains and of course a live 360° show of the Apl s, 24/7! Connoisseurs of a certain way of life, appreciative of beautiful things, will fall under the spell of this 5-star hotel that offers space and elegance, a reminder of the grand palace hotels.
The atmosphere is Nordic-chic with a choice of noble materials such as wood and stone. Altapura has its own distinct style, featuring both subdued, festive, cosmopolitan and high-tech ambiences. Interactive touch screens, Iphone/Ipod docks plus a Mac Mini in your room, Altapura has wondrously incorporated new technologies into a world of luxury. Each of the 88 rooms and suites provides a haven of peace with large windows looking out onto the majestic Alps. About interior design, The Highest Skipalace’s surprising and majestic wall is lined with more than 200 antique skis curving like a giant ski slope in the heart of the hotel, to the outdoor bar. Greedy snowflakes and La Laiterie are in-house restaurants where one can taste unique cheese fondues so synonymous with these mountains.
