The town of Megève

Located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, in the Mont Blanc region, the town of Megève is renowned for its authenticity and quality of life. Discretion meets luxury, a harmony so dear to French style. Megève is also a world-renowned alpine skiing pioneer and triumph.

Megève’s history linked to the Baroness de Rothschild

Baroness Noémie de Rothschild set her sights on Megève as a holiday resort for the aristocracy: she wanted a “French Saint-Moritz”. Tired of rubbing shoulders with the German enemy in the Swiss resort between the wars, she fell in love with Mont-d’Arbois and, from 1920 onwards, turned it into a setting for elegance, sporting pleasures and French art de vivre.

In 1921, the Palace des Neiges was born, a luxury hotel on Mont-d’Arbois. Many prestigious guests have stayed here.

In 1926, a new, more comfortable building in the style of a Haute-Savoie farmhouse, with large windows and a ski room, was delivered. Princess Angèle de Bourbon followed in the Baroness’s footsteps by ordering her own exceptional chalet. Megève thus became the center of attention and its development accelerated.

Today, the Palace des Neiges has become the Chalet du Mont d’Arbois, a Four Seasons luxury hotel whose restaurant bears the name of its original mother: La Table de Noémie. The property is still owned by the de Rothschild family.

👉 Stay in our My World chalet.

Megève’s reputation

Before the Rothschilds arrived in the Alps

Megève was already a ski resort, with the first competitions dating back to 1914. And the town was among the first to set up and organize downhill ski facilities. Locals designed lifts of all kinds: everything was tested in Megève.

“I believe that Megève was created for skiing and skiing was invented for Megève”.

Mathilde Maige-Lefournier, French mountaineer circa 1913.

After the arrival of the Rothschilds at Mont-d’Arbois

Megève made its mark in 1933 with the world’s first cable car, installed at Rochebrune. The result was an unrivalled experience for skiers. On arrival, the breathtaking view of the Mont-Blanc massif makes it a site in its own right, at an altitude of 1750 metres.

The famous red gondola

The legendary scarlet gondola, a Megève landmark since its inauguration in 1933, was originally gray. They were painted flamboyant red in the 60s! The skips were restored to their original color in 1997, and are now glowing red again after a complete modernization in 2021.

Fashion on the ski slopes

The famous spindle-shaped ski pants were invented in Megève by Armand Aallard in 1930, at the request of ski medalist Emile Allais. The spindle-shaped trousers took center stage at the 1937 World Alpine Ski Championships. The success of this equipment made it a standard for decades. Constantly modernized, it remains a staple of the sporting wardrobe.

The development of winter sports

The Haute-Savoie village quickly established itself on the sporting scene with the creation of the Club des Sports de Megève. The field hockey team became French champions, and Emile Allais won several medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany and at the world championships in Chamonix. The resort can count on an international reputation.

Jet-Set in the heart of the village

In the 60s and 70s, Megève was a meeting place for the jet-set: Sacha Distel got married in the heart of the village, several films were shot there, J.Cocteau nicknamed it the 21st arrondissement of Paris… But it was the town of Saint-Tropez with which it was associated, as if there were a direct line linking the two towns.

Megève on the map of France

Megève’s altitude ranges from 1080 m to 2485 m. Sallanches is just a few minutes below.

The villages of Combloux and Praz-sur-Arly stand shoulder to shoulder with Megève, just a few kilometers away, with access to the ski slopes and breathtaking panoramas.

The Megève area is vast, warm and dynamic.

Megève and Combloux are often associated by their geographical proximity. The views from Combloux of the Mont-Blanc and Aravis massifs are incomparable. Combloux is located upstream from Megève on the D1212 from Sallanches or Saint-Gervais. Direct access to the Evasion Mont Blanc ski area is possible from the Combloux slopes.

The village has also played host to a number of film shoots, including Claude Lelouch’s Salaud on t’aime starring Johnny Hallyday and Eddy Mitchell, and the groundhog advert that puts chocolate in tinfoil!

The biotope pond features a natural swimming pool filtered by aquatic plants. Heated by the sun’s rays and right opposite Mont Blanc, the water temperature reaches 26 degrees in summer, and the view is breathtaking.

A prestigious ski resort in the heart of Arly

Founded in 1931, the Club des Sports has been the birthplace of many champions, helping to establish the resort’s reputation and make its residents proud.

Let’s take a look at the first winners:

• Emile Allais in 1936, bronze medallist in alpine skiing at the Olympic Games in Garmisch, Germany;
• Emile Allais in 1937, triple gold medallist at the World Alpine Ski Championships in Chamonix;
• French curling team in 1947, world champions;
• In 1951, Roger Aallard won the first Grand Prix de Megève in downhill and slalom skiing;
• Adrien Duvillard in 1956, double winner of the Grand Prix de Megève in Alpine skiing;
• In 1957, Georges Duvillard won the European Downhill Skiing Championships;
• Henri Duvillard, in 1969, won the Megève World Cup in alpine skiing;
• Henri Duvillard repeated his performance in 1973;
• The 1984 Megève field hockey team won the French championship;
• Philippe Bozon joined the NHL in 1985;
• …

In 2015, a local boy made his mark in freestyle skiing: Anthony Benna became world champion and won the World Cup in Megève.

Then in 2018 Clément Parisse and Camille Cabrol take part in the Pyeongchang Olympics. Clément Parisse brings home the bronze medal.

The authentic village of Megève has developed around the French art of living. Epicureans and sports enthusiasts to enjoy the pleasures of food and nature.

Gourmets are won over by a wide variety of restaurants that compete in terms of quality and creativity. French gastronomy and fine produce are in the spotlight, and traditional or revisited Savoyard specialties are to be discovered in every establishment. 4 restaurants run by Michelin-starred chefs will tantalize the taste buds of even the most discerning connoisseurs:

• La Table de l’Alpaga, 2 Michelin stars, chef Anthony Bisquerra
• Le Flocon de sel, 3 Michelin stars, chef Emmanuel Renaut
• La Dame de Pic – Le 1920, chef Anne Sophie Pic, 3 Michelin stars at Maison Pic in 2007
• Nous, chef Julien Gatillon, 2 Michelin stars at Le 1920 in Megève in 2016

A sublime cuisine awaits you, awakening all your senses.

Luxury is everywhere in Megève, sheltered in a friendly, historic mountain cocoon. The village center has retained its original character. Luxury boutiques have their place in the authentic architecture. Megève is home to some of the world’s leading luxury brands:

• Hermès, 128 Place de l’Eglise, Megève ;
• Moncler, 2-4 rue Monseigneur Conseil, Megève ;
• Big Boss, 63 rue Charles Feige, Megève ;
• Ogier, 120 rue Charles Feige, Megève ;
• Notshy, 136 rue Charles Feige, Megève ;
• Dior, 9 rue Charles Feige, Megève ;
• Zadig&Voltaire, 18 rue Monseigneur Conseil, Megève ;
• Yves Salomon, 12 rue Monseigneur Conseil, Megève.

Small in size, but big in personality, Megève ‘s heart beats in all 4 seasons. Not-to-be-missed cultural events such as the International Jazz Festival, Jumping, La Grande Odyssée, the Ski World Cup, art exhibitions and many other celebrations make it a dynamic and lively place.

The town of Megève has preserved its architectural heritage while developing a modern ski resort of worldwide renown. Megève’s history can be seen right in the town center, with its 12th-century priory flanked by several stone houses, and the Montée du Calvaire, a listed monument dating from the 19th century.

The mountain village is surrounded by alpine pastures featuring typical French Alpine farmhouses and hamlets of wooden chalets built on stone foundations.

Megève is a cozy little village, a family resort where life is good.

Even today, the buildings respect this atmosphere. The latest chalets have large bay windows and an interior comfort that has increased tenfold. The charm endures, with no unsightly concreting in sight.

Megeve is an attractive town for couples and families, sports enthusiasts and gourmets alike. Activities are varied and nature is omnipresent. Staying in the Mégevan region means choosing a vacation that’s all about well-being and relaxation.