Historically, mountain chalets were used as shelters for sheep and cow herders in the Alpine region of Europe. These humble huts were purpose-built with sloping roofs and extended eaves to withstand the heavy snowfall and harsh conditions that are typical in this rugged region. Weather-resilient, readily accessible timber was the main building material of choice. As the sport of downhill skiing gained popularity in Europe and gave rise to the concept of the fashionable resort town, residences went from being utilitarian to luxurious, and the design evolved to include multiple levels, pretty loggias and balconies, and decorative woodwork. Grand hotels came to these Alpine resort towns and followed suit, overgrowing and transforming the modest chalet into palatial properties complete with even larger roaring fireplaces and cozy, fur-strewn interiors. Today, the chalet style remains a popular architectural choice for luxury properties both within the Alps and in ski regions around the world. Here, AD looks at a few of the top traditionally styled hotels set in some of the world’s most magical winter wonderlands.
Dripping in wintry icicles, decorative frescos, and old-world Austro-Hungarian elegance, the timeless Les Airelles Courchevel in France resembles the private winter residence of a European noble. As one of the most luxurious hotels in all of the French Alps, this piste-side property is brimming with aristocratic atmosphere plus flawless service. Warming interiors are lit by tapered candles and crackling wood fires, and the hotel’s 32 guest rooms and 15 suites (plus one private apartment) feature individual touches like stained-glass windows, ornamented ceilings, and in-room fireplaces. (Did we mention there’s also a La Mer spa?)
Burrowed within the dramatic snowy peaks of Northern Italy’s Dolomites, Rosa Alpina, run by the same family for three generations, expertly blends Alpine sensibility with chic Italian allure. Interiors feature neutral tones, sheepskin chairs, pine furniture, and fluffy Berber rugs, while bedrooms boast wood-burning fires and private balconies with far-reaching views over this storybook UNESCO Heritage Site. The hotel’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant, St. Hubertus, is named after the patron saint of hunters (antlers and hunting trophies feature prominently). Feast on exquisite plates that shine with seasonality and territoriality, as only local products are used in these kitchens.
There’s certainly no shortage of top-notch ski chalet hotels to choose from in Switzerland, but Ultima Gstaad, a five-star boutique with 11 suites and six private residences in the high-end enclave of Gstaad, is one of the most opulent options. Expect traditional Swiss exteriors set against the backdrop of the Saanen ski slopes and interiors featuring fur, velvet, bronze, marble, edged wood, buttery leather, and tactile textiles. There’s also a sleek spa by La Prairie and a state-of-the-art aesthetics clinic, as well as three elegant bars for some après-ski action.
The slope-side Caldera House on the outskirts of Grand Teton National Park isn’t exactly your traditional ski chalet hotel, but this intimate resort made up of just eight suites and a members-only club knows how to do modern-day cozy. With over $100 million invested into the property, the final woodsy-chic product presents a well-balanced blend of contemporary European elegance and classic American craftsmanship. Larger suites come fully equipped with log-burning fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, steaming hot tubs, and glossy outdoor spaces outfitted with half-globe Solus fire pits, gas grills, and heated snowmelt patios.
Harking back to 1862, Bachmair Weissach in the powder-topped Bavarian Alps looks like something out a Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale; however, despite strong links to its heritage (don’t miss the framed lederhosen), this property can be surprisingly forward-looking. For example, shielded in local blond oak, lattice windows, and beamed ceilings, a pot of bubbling cheese fondue is practically obligatory at the hotel’s pastoral restaurant, Kreuther Fondue Stube—but then again so is a trip to the unexpectedly modern Japanese-style onsen baths.
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In the rarified hamlet of Megève, there’s Les Fermes de Marie, a huddle of pastoral farmhouses and impossibly quaint chalets just a few minutes away from the cobblestoned heart of the village. The retreat’s 70 rooms are decorated in a comfortable mountain style with lamb-fleece cushions from Mongolia, aged-oak exposed beams, and antique accents. The property also has several private chalets on offer, like the charming Chalet des Fermes (pictured here), which has underground access to the main hotel.
With a hip boutique aesthetic crafted from Tyrolean wood, natural stone, and polished metals, plus up-to-the-minute tech, Severins serves up a 21st-century smart-chalet hotel with just a handful of rooms. Wooden windows frame snow-white views of Austria’s Lech Mountains and the surrounding powder-dusted valleys and glades, while the Residence at Severins, which sprawls out over two floors, comes with a terrace with a private hot tub, as well as a private cinema and a lounge with a grand piano.
