Megève

Megeve has managed to retain its rustic charm like few other resorts in the French Alps. Tucked into the narrow Val d'Arly, west of Chamonix and south of Geneva, it spreads out under the rocky mountainsides in a series of timber-clad chalets, rustic farmhouses, and crooked wooden homes. Peer a little closer, and you'll see that there's a whiff of elegance and charm about the place; a hint of exclusive St Moritz or Verbier.

Developed in the early 1900s for Baroness de Rothschild of the famous banking family, Megeve now swirls around a centre packed with fashion boutiques and cosy fondue bistros. Bars filled with folks clinking rich vin chaud spill onto the cobbled squares. Down one alley, you'll find Club de Jazz les 5 Rues – one of the oldest jazz clubs in France. Down another is Flocons de Sel – a three Michelin-starred restaurant headed by Emmanuel Renaut.

Take one look at our luxury chalet collection in Megeve, and you'll see how winter is the most alluring season in these parts. There are properties here with grand country-style lounges clad in timber and warmed by roaring hearths. There are chalets with heated private pools, spas, and outdoor Jacuzzis.

Many of the luxury chalets for rent in Megeve boast ski-in/ski-out access to the slopes or private driver services, allowing you to be one of the first on the pistes and the last off. And what pistes they are!

Megeve sits at the heart of the vast Evasion Mont Blanc ski area, which spreads from Gervais Mont Blanc all the way to Combloux and La Giettaz in the north and west. In all, it counts 445 kilometres of marked runs, 109 ski lifts, and 1,500 metres of vertical drop. Plus, the region is known for hosting some of the most happening apres-ski bars in the Haute Savoie – think the likes of champagne-doused La Folie Douce or the Austrian-style Rendez-vous in abundance.

When the snows finally melt, luxury chalet breaks in Megeve are more about hiking or mountain biking in the shadow of Mont Blanc, enjoying the culinary prowess of the region, or simply soaking up the jaw-dropping views of snow-capped peaks that surround the town.