Lying just one hour from Geneva, Megève is the essence of rustic chic and was the original purpose built French ski resort, conceived in the 1920's as France's alternative to Switzerland's St Moritz. Whilst the St-Tropez set probably winters in swanky Courchevel, Megève still draws the an equally discerning clientele, most likely tempted by the excellent concentration of michelin-star restaurants and the authentic charm of a town that has retained its French identity unlike many other resorts. Megève is home to numerous five-star hotels, as well as Michelinstarred restaurants (including one with the maximum three-star accolade), as well as several of the world’s finest mountain spas. For the skier with an appetite there are also some first-class mountain restaurants. At the top of the Mont Joux lift, in Saint Gervais, there’s table-top dancing at the Folie Douce restaurant and après bar, with spectacular views of Mont Blanc. For later on, the three-Michelin star Flocons de Sel just outside the village serves delicious food but the ambience is relaxed and not too formal. The resort’s core is a beautiful, traffic-free medieval centre around which the town has progressively expanded. But it remains a charming and delightful place to stroll around with cobbled streets, a central open air ice rink, a splendid church (prettily lit at night), horsedrawn sleighs and lots of galleries and shops selling smart clothes and. luxury accessories. The extensive lift network is suitable for all levels of skier or snowboarder. The Portes du Mont Blanc pass provides access to roughly 100km of pistes, and an upgrade to the Evasion Mont Blanc pass increases this to over 400km. Equally, in summer Megeve offers a wonderful outdoor environment with everyone, from paragliding and hot air ballooning to family hikes and spa days. Gallic charm and gastronomic delights 10
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