Words: Gentleman's Journal
There’s nothing quite like slumping into a sofa after a long day skiing – the feeling of crashing in front of an open fire to warm your fingers after a day of tackling the black runs. But not all ski chalets were born equal – some of these mountainside mansions are style spectacles to behold. We’ve rounded up our favourite, and most impressive properties in the skiing world right now.
Chalet Edelweiss, Courchevel
What other chalet boasts a cinema, sauna and its own nightclub? Not to mention original artwork by Salvador Dali, a 50 square metre ski room opening directly onto Courchevel’s Bellecote piste, and a build price of £85 million. Welcome to Chalet Edelweiss, often dubbed ‘the most luxurious ski accommodation in the Alps.
Truly ski-in, ski-out, this chalet right on the piste has eight bedrooms, each with private bathrooms, and is furnished to the highest quality and specification throughout. Constructed in a traditional feel for a more classic skiing experience, the build is nonetheless meticulously modern. Expect a state of the art gym, double massage room and pool area on the spa floor – yes, it has a spa floor.
Elsewhere, a car lift gives you easy access to a handy underground garage, and a magnificent spiral staircase is the centre point to an open plan living area. Not enough? There’s also a bar and library on site, and that nightclub we mentioned earlier – we weren’t joking: with a DJ booth and dance floor, there’s room for 100 guests.
Chalet Husky, Val d’Isere
If Chalet Edelweiss is a modern chalet hiding its contemporary construction behind a traditional facade, then Val d’Isere’s Chalet Husky is a new build fully embracing its youth. Vibrant, innovative and a triumph of contemporary interior design, this chalet is the very definition of mind-blowing – and you’ll be so excited to explore its nooks and crannies that you’ll hardly want to ski at all.
Inside, the vast open plan living spaces are bookended by a lavish dining room at one end, and a stylish bar at the other. A glass walkway is suspended above the indoor atrium garden, and the lounge gives you a hint of the classic apres-ski design just where you want it – with huge brown leather sofas to get lost in after a day on the slopes.
Elsewhere, quirky and interesting artefacts are peppered throughout the property, and the coloured uplighting in the atrium adds another dimension of decoration. And, if either the colours or the skiing gets too much for you, Chalet Husky has one of the best wellness areas in the world, with a vast pool, infinity waterfall, sauna, hammam and automatic massage tables.
Chalet Zermatt Peak, Zermatt
A previous winner of the coveted ‘Best Ski Chalet in Switzerland’ award, and boasting a 5-star+ rating from the Swiss Hotel Association, Chalet Zermatt Peak has set a new precedent in luxury chalet design. Incorporating warm colours, natural materials and workmanship and aiming to complement the surrounding village and landscape, this property has stunning views – both inside and out.
Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in, without any of the chill, and the entrance couldn’t get more Bond-villain if you tried – you enter Chalet Zermatt Peak through a private lift and tunnel. Multiples saunas and steam baths allow you to soothe any aching muscles from a day on the slopes, and Bang & Olufsen cinema screens also offer you the option to relax.
And that’s not even the best part. Chalet Zermatt Peak, despite being equipped with a kitchen you’ll be dying to use yourself, also comes with a personal chef who is on hand to prepare you any number of traditional Swiss or international dishes. And, once he’s cooked up a storm, why not wrap up and enjoy your meals on the Al-fresco dining terrace – with some of the best views in the Alps.
Art Chalet, Courchevel
If creative elegance is you thing, then Art Chalet is for you. Essentially doing exactly what it says on the tin, this entire property is a work of art – from the waterfall swimming pool surrounded by 4 flat screen TVs to the grand piano in the music area.
Sculptures, paintings, lithographies and drawings by artists such as Picasso and Warhol are liberally scattered throughout Art Chalet. Even the light fittings are art installations, and the Japanese toilets are a stylish touch. And that’s not even mentioning all the other areas and rooms – from a private nightclub, sleek glass elevators, a cinema room, games room and even a wine cellar.
With these seven floors of total indulgence at your disposal, you’d be forgiven for forgetting to get out onto the slopes. And, when a bad weather day does hit, you’ll secretly be happy that you and your 14 guests can stay inside in your very own fabulous mountain mansion.
Chalet N, Oberlech
Chalet N definitely sets the benchmark for true Alpine over-indulgence. Undoubtedly one of the most impressive properties in the ski chalet rental market worldwide, it is a vast chalet that still somehow manages to keep its homely ambience, at the same time being opulent yet still understated.
Regional building materials are incorporated into the property, combined with cutting edge technology to create one of the most decadent environments on the mountainside. As with Chalet Zermatt Peak, the team of chefs will use all their culinary skills to spoil you in the restaurant and freshly prepare whatever you are in the mood for. The Walser Stüberl caters for fondue fans and specialities from the grill are served outside. And the butler service ensures that you can enjoy exactly what you fancy anywhere in the chalet.
Elsewhere a relaxation area boasts steam showers, ice fountain, hay sauna, Finnish sauna or salt-cave steam bath, the obligatory and very generously sized swimming pool, and dual outdoor hot tubs. And, when you’re suitable relaxed, why not hit the library, billiard room, wine cellar or home cinema to continue your enjoyment?
Bighorn, Revelstoke
As we know, nowhere on earth has powder like Canada. And, similarly, nowhere does luxury quite like the hili-retreat Bighorn, in the elite resort of Revelstoke. Three floors of deluxe accommodation for 16 adults are centred around the triple height Great Room, where a fire roars and you can entertain your fellow winter holidaymakers.
There are multiple spaces for dining – from sitting in the elegant dining room to propping up the marble bar and watching the chef at work on the grill. Inside, there’s also a hot tub, private cinema, pool table, bar, exercise pool, gym, and massage parlour.
But the best part of Bighorn – and we realise this isn’t exactly the interior, but it’s too good to brush over – is the twin option of either heliskiing from your private doorstep helipad, or heading to the nearby ski lift (the highest in North America). Revelstoke Mountain has over one million acres of cat and heliskiing in arguably the world’s best terrain – so stay at Bighorn and you’ll be free to glide through deep bowls and glaciers, and traverse forests in glorious powder that ache to be explored.
Looking for something a little more attainable? Here are the last minute ski chalet deals for your winter escape…
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