Will you marry “moi” ?

The French Alps are home to snowy mountain peaks, alpine lakes and lush green valleys and are most known for their outdoor activities of skiing, paragliding, mountain climbing and rafting. It is here that you will find great skiing in the winter, chalets dotting the skyline of mountain villages and scenery that will take your breath away! You’ll almost feel like journeying to the top of a peak to yodel or better yet, to sing out loud like Julie Andrews and the Van-Trapp family in the Sound of Music as you enjoy hearing the echo of your voice and the natural beauty of this region. The highest mountain in the Alps is the Mont-Blanc (4,877 meters or 16,001feet!), on the French-Italian border.

There are a lot of towns in the area, for what at first glance might seem like an isolated section of France, don’t be fooled… you will be pleasantly surprised.

There are fantastic opportunities for skiers and snowboarders with over 200 resorts in the Alps, Chamonix, Megeve and Val d’Isère being the most popular. Chamonix features the world’s highest cable car, and Mont- Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe, is near Chamonix. Annecy has lantern lit lanes, Chambéry contains the most history, and Grenoble is the largest city in the French Alps.

The Alps are a very popular and diverse area, to simplify matters let’s look at the 3 main regions: Haute-Savoie (Upper Savoy) in the north, containing Mont Blanc, Savoie (Savoy) to the West, and Isère in the South-East part of the Alps. Since there are so many small famous towns in the Alps, let’s cover the most popular ones.

The Haute-Savoie Region

Mont Blanc and Lake Annecy are located in Haute-Savoie, as well as the town of Évian-les-Bains, the most famous town on the French shore of Lake Geneva, and well-known around the world for its mineral water, “Evian” which I am sure everyone is familiar with… Some of the world’s most well-known ski resorts are located in Haute-Savoie. For instance, Chamonix — a city where skiing and mountain climbing are the most popular activities in the region thanks to the Mont-Blanc, Europe’s second highest mountain.

Annecy

Sitting on the edge of one of the Alps’ largest alpine lakes is Annecy. As the capital of the Haute-Savoie region in France, the city has been nicknamed the “Venice of Savoie” for its many small canals dissecting the city. The city is built around a medieval town center, specifically a 14th century Château and the lake is clean, huge and has a beautiful azure blue color. The city is also the paragliding capital of the Alps and on any given fair weather day, you can watch parachutes floating high above the lake.

Evian-les-Bains

Located on the banks of Lake Geneva, Evian is the home of springs and spas. The town has that effortless charm which is typical of all spa towns; the medical properties of Evian water were discovered in 1789, when a gentleman from another part of the country, realized that it was dissolving his kidney stones! Imagine that… Evian water is filtered by sand of glacial origin, and is very cold and low in minerals. Although many different springs exist in the Alps, bottled Evian water is one of the main French mineral waters. Along the shore and on the lakes there are wonderful romantic walks and boat trips on Lake Geneva. You can also visit Evian’s popular art-nouveau pump house with its tiled cupola built in the 18^th Century on the site of the Cachât River.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

Pronounced Cham-o-knee. (Please don’t pronounce the x or you will sound like a tourist). Probably the most famous city in the French Alps, there is a lot to do and see in this mountain oasis. Here you can ski at one of the many areas, visit the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), which is one of the biggest glaciers in continental Europe, or hike to one of the many mountain trails. Sitting at the base of Western Europe’s highest Mountain (Mont Blanc), you can take one of the highest cable cars in the world to the top of Aiguille du Midi. This exilerating ride has the greatest vertical range in the world and will take you up to 3810 meters or 12,500 f. I personally went up there some years ago dressed in my summer clothes and nearly froze my bottom off so bring warm clothes! You won’t regret it, it’s totally awesome…!

Megève

This town is a typical mountain village complete with cows, forests and about 50 working farms in the area. It also has been a jet-set ski resort since the 1920’s, when as the story goes the area was discovered by Baroness de Rothschild. Here you will see some of the most charming châlets in the region. Mixing the old with the new is definitely in vogue in Megève; an old piece of wood salvaged from abandoned châlets is more expensive than mahogany! The famous “Fermes de Marie” hotel has reused parts taken from over 60 farms in the area. While you are there, treat yourself to a luxury meal at the Ferme de Marie.

The Savoie Region

Savoie boasts their wonderful landscapes, legendary history, excellent wines but also a great number of cheeses which rightfully are very popular in France and throughout the world. Oh my goodness, the cheeses in Savoie are extraordinary; in particular the famous “Reblochon”! Made only from the milk of local cattle, Savoyard cheeses are packed with all the flavor and goodness of the mountain pastures. During your visit you should not miss sampling the many cheeses … with a glass of a good local wine!

Aix-les-Bains

Aix-les-Bains oozes with the luxurious charm of the Belle-Époque, the period before the 1^st World War when the aristocracy of Europe lived a decadent and leisurely existence. From flower fairs to music festivals, the town of Aix-les-Bains still celebrates with a touch of class. You will also enjoy the Impressionist Art at the Musée Faure. Dr. Jean Faure was a successful pharmacist who made his fortune selling a healing potion called Elixir Bonjean. Upon his death he donated his fine collection of Impressionist paintings, now housed in the Faure Museum. Among other masterpieces, the museum boasts Cézanne’s “Le Bac à Bonnières” and Degas’ “Les Danseuses Mauves”. Also drop into the Casino « Grand Cercle » and place your bets! The opulent ceiling of the gaming hall was designed in 1883 using some 3,500,000 colored glass mosaic tiles.

Chambéry

Chambéry is the capital of Savoie. A tour of this historic center is a riot of trompe l’oeil decorations, brightly colored façades and wrought-iron embellishments. Lying between the Combe de Savoie valley, Aiguebelette lake and the La Chartreuse and Les Bauges highlands, Chambéry also makes an ideal base from which to explore the region. Don’t miss the “Fountain of the Elephants”; Chambéry’s love of the extravagant and whimsy is clearly demonstrated here in this old town.

Courchevel

Is located in the Savoie region of the Alpes, and part of Les Trois Vallées, the largest linked ski area in the world. This ski resort has its own airport (Courchevel Airport) and a highway linking it to the rest of Europe.

What makes Courchevel different is that it is not one single resort, but spread across four different altitudes; Courchevel Le Praz 1300, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1850; each offering a very different image and village feel. Courchevel 1850 is where the rich and famous come “to see and be seen”. The secluded Jardin Alpin sector is where all the spectacular chalets and hotels are located; however there are still reasonably priced accommodations in the center of town. There are gentle beginner slopes and a vast array of intermediate and advanced slopes making it a very busy resort.

Courchevel 1650 is lower down the valley and the price scheme but still has a lot to offer. Here you will often find some of the best snow and quietest slopes in Courchevel. Courchevel 1550 is quieter, with just a few chalets and hotels. A new high speed 6 person chairlift was installed offering a very quick connection to Courchevel 1850. There is also a bubble lift which runs daily from 09:00 am to 7:30 pm taking you into the centre of 1850.

Courchevel Luxury Chalet

Courchevel 1300 sits on a large flat ledge and so is very easy to get round on foot with no hills to navigate. A couple of thousand people live there all year round so it has the feel of a real village all the year round. There is a school, supermarket, 5 restaurants/bars, 2 ski shops, post office, baker, butcher etc. – in fact everything you need. The 2 bubble lifts from the village take you rapidly up to 1850 in less than 8 minutes. The village has lots of little nooks and crannies and is easily the prettiest part of Courchevel. You can ski back to 1300 all season due to the investment in snow cannons.

Courchevel has its fair share of posh clients, none more so than the Saudi Royal family. Last year was quite a spectacle, with the family deciding to extend their stay, which resulted in them reserving an entire TGV train for their entourage of 145 people! Who knows you might find yourself skiing along side of the a Saudi Princes one day…

Charentaise Valley/ Albertville

This is called the Olympic valley, the Tarentaise valley follows the course of the Isère river, all the way from Albertville to Val-D’Isère. There is a fantastic museum here called “Maison des Jeux Olympics d’Hiver,

(House of the Winter Olympics). This museum recounts and displays the full story of the Winter Olympics announced in 1982 to the staging of the events 10 years later. There are also displays showing the history of winter sports, including the evolution of the ski boot.

The Isère Region

Grenoble

Grenoble is foremost a very popular university town but is also home to the 1968 winter Olympics, this city is one of the more major metropolitan areas in the French Alps. Home to a large population of scientists, researchers and students, this city has a lot to offer guests in addition to the hiking, skiing and climbing found throughout the region. The city is sophisticated and charming, particularly in the appealing streets of its historic center.

Accommodations

Although there are a great many wonderful 3 star hotels in the Alps, complete with spas and gourmet restaurants, you must stay in one of the beautiful and charming chalets. The Savoyard chalets come straight out of a pretty picture post-card, with balconies adorned with geraniums and begonias, honey colored walls, and russet-brown or moss-covered roofs; they perch dramatically on the green slopes of the mountains and foothills of the Alpine region.

Gastronomy

A blend of culinary specialties you would find while traveling throughout the region: “Fricassee de Caïon with Coffe Sauce”, made of pork, chopped leeks and celery and herbs. “Longeoles” , little pork sausages filled with wild cumin, anis seeds and fennel, “Crozets”, tiny , grayish pasta shapes made from flour and buckwheat, “ Magland Sausage” , smoked and dried sausage which sells at the famous Paris food shop of Fauchon, “ Gratin Dauphinois”, potatoes baked in a rich cream sauce and flavored with garlic,

And finally my favorite, say cheese!!! “Fondue”, a Savoyard specialty loved throughout the world consisting of Abondance cheese, garlic, Savoyard white wine, and a dash of Madeira wine, “Raclette”, melted Reblochon cheese served with boiled potatoes and cold meats, yummy! Beaufort and Tomme to name a few.

Wines from the Alps: The wines of Savoie are virtually unknown to the rest of the world as the great majority is consumed within the region itself when the wines are young although the “Mondeuse”, “Chignin-Bergeron” and “Rousette” wines age well. Naturally don’t forget to sample the famous Ice-Wines of the Alps!

Climate

As is the case in most mountain communities, the Alps two major seasons for visitors are summer and winter. While fall can also be a nice time to see the foliage and do some hiking, most people come to the mountains to swim in the alpine lakes in the summer or hit the slopes in the winter. At higher elevations in the Alps you should expect cold, snowy winters and warm (sometimes wet) summers. At lower elevations, winters are less harsh and summers can be very hot. Thunderstorms are frequent in the late summer months. Of course it is important to keep in mind that the higher elevation you travel to, the colder the weather regardless if it is January or July.

Average Temperatures in the French Alps: January: 35, February: 37, March: 42, April: 48, May: 55, June: 62, July: 69, August: 66, September: 60, October: 55, November: 42, December: 39

Transportation

Major airlines offer regularly scheduled flights from the US to one of the key gateway airports (Geneva, Lyon-Satolas and Chambery).By Train, Paris Gard du Nord offers 16 trains daily and the T.G.V. (high speed train) from Paris will take you to Albertville in about 4 hours.

Other Notes of Interest

While in the French Alps you must see or purchase the majestic and peaceful “Colombes de la Paix”, the Doves of Peace. These doves hand carved in spruce with an Opinel knife are a good luck charm. Their feathers are as fine as tissue paper, almost like lace. They look at though they are ready to fly, a real treat for the eyes!!! Purchase an Opinel knife, very popular in the Alps and created in 1890 by Joseph Opinel. And for the collector in you, get yourself a genuine “Cowbell”, these cowbells are worn around the cow’s neck and are forged from steel coated with a layer of bronze. Some can weigh as much as 8 lbs.!

A Wedding Destination in the French Alps

And finally, in an upcoming blog we will talk about wedding destinations in the French Alps which are loaded with well connected towns, and are popular year round, making them ideal for a Winter or Fall Wedding Destination. “Just imagine yourself and your groom riding in a horse drawn sleigh to the reception or church, complete with a fur throw to keep you warm…!!!

References: www.wedthemes.com, www.theknot.com, www.wikipedia.com, www.fodors.com, www.frenchalps.com www.favorideas.com,