Mountain Life in The French Alps

There is something about being in the mountains that makes you slow down and notice things differently.

I spent a week in a beautiful chalet in the French Alps, waking to mountain views, exploring villages, discovering beautiful places to eat and simply enjoying the space to breathe. From Morzine and the surrounding valleys to Samoëns and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, there was so much to discover.

Waking up in a beautiful ski chalet in the mountains feels very special.

As you venture out onto the balcony to take in the stunning views of pine trees, the gondola in the distance, snaking its way to the top of the mountain, disappearing behind the pine trees as it makes its ascent, the wood-clad chalets dotted on the hillside and the valley below.

The cone-shaped spire of the nearby village church, nestled amongst a cluster of buildings in the distance.

But there is something else that takes your breath away, literally — the mountain air.

The crispness. It doesn’t just feel clean, it feels invigorating. Each breath feels like you are detoxing and your whole body responds to the freshness and vigour that it imparts.

These are some of the moments I love in the mountains.

First thing in the morning, warm coffee in hand, taking in the valley as it starts to come to life.

Then last thing in the evening, your body pleasantly exhausted from a day of exploring and slowly the valley turns itself in for the night.

No big announcement or drama, just a quietness and calm falling gently around you.

In previous blog posts I have introduced you to the beautiful lakeside towns and villages, like Yvoire, Annecy, Talloires and beautiful Megève.

Now let me show you the natural beauty of the Morzine valley and slightly further afield, to the pretty old town of Samoëns and into the more dramatic and natural beauty of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.

Our beautiful interior-designed chalet offers so much more than the gorgeous fabrics and curated rooms.

Each one has its own distinctive feel and charm, each ensuite with plentiful comfy white towels and Wild England toiletries in sweet orange and cardamom.

The impressive, spacious lounge, dining and kitchen spaces blend seamlessly, creating the perfect social environment.

With its comfortable sofas, window seats, banquet seating at the impressive dining table and walls delicately painted with mountain flowers, it is easy to imagine spending time here.

Whether chatting in the kitchen whilst food is being prepared, relaxing together in the cosy lounge area, reading in a quiet corner or dining together, it is the perfect environment to relax and connect.

You cannot help but imagine Christmas around the central tiled fireplace, a roaring fire, crisp white snow in the distance and the familiar smells of lunch cooking, alongside the laughter and excitement of a mountain Christmas.

It was equally lovely to enjoy the garden and dining area, soak up the early autumn sunshine and sit quietly on the upper terrace, taking some time for yourself.

Then, at the end of a full day, sinking into the huge L-shaped sofa in the cinema room, with a glass of wine, a good movie and company, was the perfect end to the day.

The weather in the mountains can be variable, particularly in September, and apart from one rainy day, we were able to explore the area with blue skies. On two of the days it was 29 degrees!

There are plenty of opportunities to explore the area without needing to spend every day hiking in the mountains.

The gondola and chairlift to a nearby cheese farm was an easy way to experience the mountains, made even more enjoyable by the views from the chairlift and the opportunity to see and hear the local cows and their distinctive cow bells.

A walk to nearby Montriond, a pretty village, takes around 40 minutes, following the river bed into the village. To my delight, I found a local book exchange, perfectly placed in a ski telecabine.

A further 40-minute walk to Lac Montriond, via a beautiful babbling brook, was slightly more challenging, but the lake and mountain restaurant at the end were certainly worth the effort.

There are plenty of ways to simply enjoy the villages, cafés, restaurants, shops and scenery without walking at all.

Samoëns

Venturing further down the valley takes you to pretty medieval Samoëns, known as the city of the Seven Mountains, as there are seven mountains surrounding the village.

At the historic heart of the village is the medieval church and the Gros Tilleul, a natural monument planted in 1438.

The tree is now 20 metres tall and for nearly six centuries has become the emblem of the village.

The village is also famous for its stonemasons and particularly popular with art lovers who love sculpture.

Samoëns is also known for its beautiful botanical gardens, La Jaÿsinia Alpine Botanical Garden, which was built in 1906.

The village is renowned for its market halls, with several markets taking place each week.

I was even more surprised to find one of my favourite shops, Neptune, nestled into the market square in Samoëns.

Sadly, it was closed the day we visited, which was probably just as well.

Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval

As you leave Samoëns and head just 10 minutes further into the Haute-Savoie, at the end of the Giffre Valley, you arrive at another beautiful village, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.

Sixt is part of the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval, a natural amphitheatre, with the Giffre River having its source in Sixt, fed by many waterfalls in the nearby mountains.

Sixt is also famous for the impressive Cascade du Rouget waterfall, known as the Queen of the Alps.

We took around two hours to reach the waterfall via a steep path, which was more of a hike than a walk, but it is also possible to visit the waterfall by road.

And perhaps that is one of the things I particularly love about this area.

You can choose.

You can hike into the mountains, take a lift, drive to a waterfall, wander around a village, sit beside a lake, find a local shop or market, enjoy a long lunch or simply sit on a balcony with a coffee and take in the view.

Food and the Seasons

The Savoyard cuisine, although heavy with cheeses, potatoes, cured meats and wine, is famous for the iconic fondue, tartiflette and raclette, and it would be a shame not to indulge a little whilst in the region.

Without a doubt, my nervous system calms when I am in the mountains.

Being immersed in nature, embracing the rhythm of the seasons and the nourishment of seasonal and local food, cocooned in the beauty of a wood-clad chalet, the space that it creates — not just around you but inside you — gives you a chance to breathe again, to just be.

The mountains seem to speak to each of our senses, and the ability to discover local artisans and creatives, often working with natural materials, just nourishes and expands our own creativity.

I love that the French Alps offer us the opportunity to explore beautiful mountain villages and the natural beauty surrounding them, alongside the ability to explore lakeside towns and villages, all within a short distance of each other.

It really is an experience for all your senses that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.

Each bringing their own uniqueness, beauty and sense of discovery.

If you would like to join the wait list for the next French Alps experience, just email experiences@eight8.co.uk and I will send you the dates and full itinerary when finalised.

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