The Alps Beyond the Slopes: Exploring Alpine France and Switzerland Sans Skis

If you thought the Alps were just for ski season, think again. Remote work and the wellness movement have combined to fuel exciting new openings in this picturesque mountain region. If you’re lucky enough to own a home in the Alps, or you’re considering purchasing one, here are a few chic spots piquing our interest in some of our favorite towns.

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FRANCE

Courchevel 1850

Nestled in the Three Valleys, Courchevel 1850 is famous for its manicured slopes. But it also boasts more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other ski resort in the world. Add to your dining wish list Chef Jean-Rémi Caillon’s Alpage Restaurant, in the Annapurna Hotel, which earned its first Michelin star after only one winter in business. Though it’s open only seasonally, do yourself a favor and book a table to sample the buzzworthy cuisine, showcasing local ingredients and celebrating the region’s farming heritage.

We’re also fans of Sylvestre Restaurant, in the Hotel Les Grandes Alpes, which was recently awarded its second Michelin star for Himalayan-born Chef Sylvestre Wahid’s inventive menu. There are only four tables here, seating for 15, so you can rely on being treated like royalty. Chef Yannick Alléno’s three-star winner Le 1947 à Cheval Blanc, in the Cheval Blanc Courchevel hotel, has just five tables. Both restaurants have open kitchens, so you’ll get to watch the chefs work their magic.

Megève

In addition to being featured in Emily in Paris, the town of Megève is home to the Four Seasons Hotel Megève, perched on the slopes of Mont d’Arbois. The hotel is a collaboration with Edmond de Rothschild Heritage, reflecting the Rothschild family’s long association with the village. (In the 1920s, Baroness Noémie made it her mission to turn Megève into a resort to rival St. Moritz.) If you’re a guest, while away an afternoon in one of the hotel’s culinary, pastry, or mixology classes. Or try a perfume workshop. Another option: Take to the skies in a hot air balloon, a paraglider, or a small plane over Mont Blanc.

Craving a little decadence? Follow our lead and visit the Glaçons de Megève boutique, where the Vigliengo family has been crafting delicate, bite-size meringue-covered chocolate pralines (“Megève ice cubes”) following a family recipe since 1910.

Le 1947 à Cheval Blanc.

SWITZERLAND

Andermatt

The five-star Chedi Andermatt hotel may have put this small mountain village near Zurich on the map, but it still retains its understated charm. The Chedi’s restaurant, The Japanese, is a must on any foodie’s itinerary. Executive Chefs Dominik Sato and Fabio Toffolon’s creative cuisine has earned them two Michelin stars. Turophiles will want to stop to admire the hotel’s 16-foot-high, climate-controlled cheese tower stacked with more than 40 mouthwatering varieties of fromage.

The countryside here is as breathtaking when the snow melts as it is during ski season, filled with waterfalls and mountain lakes. Spend an afternoon admiring it on a bike ride or a hike. If you prefer a more thrilling pace, rent a vintage car or a Harley-Davidson (available for guests at the Chedi) and head for the stunning Furka Pass, open June to October. One of the highest and most awe-inspiring mountain passes, it is also among the most difficult to drive, thanks to its many switchbacks. (James Bond fans will recognize it from the movie Goldfinger.)

Villars-sur-Ollon

In the Swiss Alps, we like the recently renovated Palace hotel, which reopened in 2022 and now operates during both winter and summer seasons. Le 1913 restaurant, named in honor of the year the historic hotel welcomed its first guests, serves a mix of regional and Mediterranean fare in a glorious setting with mountain views on one side and views into the open kitchen presided over by Chef Christian Bertogna on the other.

A short drive away you’ll find vineyards, artisanal cheese makers, thermal springs, medieval Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva, and Peak Walk, a suspension bridge connecting the mountain peaks of Tissot and Glacier 3000. Traversing it is a bucket lister for thrill seekers.

Contact knightfrank.com to find out how our Alpine market experts can support your next property search.

Some information in this article appeared in The View from Knight Frank.