In the French Alps, Luxe Stargazing Is the Ultimate Après-Ski Activity

Come for the slopes and stay for the stars in Megève, France.

Make your style through Megève , France ’s cobble medieval streets and eminent - ending shops , drive passed its multi - million euro chalet - manner homes in the fence in hills , and uprise to the snow-white heights of Mont d’Arbois , and you ’ll find some of thebest ski slopesin theFrench Alps — if not the world . It ’s what thisfairytale - like mountain townis known for . But if you walk a short distance from the gondola lifts near the summit , you ’ll also regain a seemingly unlikely structure support squat against the stunning panoramic views : an lookout station . That ’s because Megève is n’t just a destination for pulverization hounds — it ’s also a helluva place to take inthe wonder of the night sky , in part thanks to next - stratum stargazing experiences offer up by theFour Seasons Hotel Megève .

Perfectly located in the heart of the Alps — and easily accessed via Geneva — Megève is a world - classwinter adventurelandwith nearly 250 miles of slopes . In fact , the village of about 3,000 residents was originally created as an alternative to the Swiss resort townSt . Moritzby the uber - wealthy Rothschild kinsperson in the twenties . Long tarradiddle short , the Baroness Noémie de Rothschild want France to have a St. Moritz - caliber ski resort hotel of its own . And by the fifties , it was held court as exactly that , attracting not just the rich , but the famous , too , including Hollywood stars Audrey Hepburn and other A - listers of the clip . Today , Megève continue a pail list destination forwinter sports enthusiast , who regularly push its universe to some 100,000 during peak ski time of year ( and if you pay heed out with a local for long enough , you ’ll hear about the stratospheric real estate prices to match ) .

Adventure Doesn’t Mean Roughing It at This Luxury French Alps Retreat

Alpine activities and chef-prepared meals await at Chalet Pelerin.

This tony part of the world also surpass when it add up to the timeless custom ofaprès ski . And due to Megève ’s pinnacle , low easy contamination , and overall tranquillity , you’re able to take your post - cardio relaxation to the next level at nightlife spots likeRendez - vous club , a centrally located disco open until dawn , or the swank — yet cosy — Bar Edmondat the Four Seasons Hotel Megève , among others . And later , Megève offers the ultimateaprès - après ski , if you will , in the mannequin of luxurystargazing experiencesand educational events powered by a burgeon biotic community of localastronomers .

There ’s a bit of satire in seeking out a travel terminus for something as terrestrial as skiing and then finding yourself drawn to something as celestial as stargazing , but here — perhaps unlike anywhere else in the world — these sideline complement each other swimmingly . Come for the slope , rest for the sensation .

Observatoire du Mont D’Arbois , the small but mighty observatory between Megève and Saint - Gervais - les - Bains , is advantageously perched 1,800 meters atop its eponymic sight , give it secret to unobstructed views of the sky and , of class , killer views of the skirt resorts . you may actually spot the small structure from the yard of the area ’s only ski - in , ski - out resort , the aforesaid Four Seasons Hotel Megève , which also swash its own stargazing chopine by agency of a close relationship with local astronomers .

Courtesy of Four Seasons

No one have sex the vantage breaker point better than local astronomy organizationMont D’Arbois Astronomie , its member occasionally hauling a trove of heavy telescopes and stargazing equipment to the hotel to portion out with guest . The chemical group , led by Jacques Amsellem , hostsstargazing workshop and other activitiesfor local anaesthetic and visitor likewise , further their stated missionary station to further “ the development of the scientific and cultural spirit , especially with regard to astronomy , the discovery of the stars , the subject of the deep sky , the existence and cosmology . ” They ’ve been operating out of the observatory since the building open in 2015 .

The Four Seasons , in turn , has also embraced the stargazing germ . One night , a fellow member of the hotel bar staff overheard a couple talking about their love of stargazing , and rapidly mobilized a massive behind - the - shot movement to storm them with a dreamy night of sleeping under the wizard . The company recently launched an ad about the tale , “ establish on a rightful Stay . ”

Now available to all guests , the capably titledA Night Above the Cloudspackage ravish hotel - goers to the exclusive Suite Idéal , a super - sequestered mountaintop retirement access via a scenic 15 - minute transmission line auto drive from the hotel . The special includes a night in the entourage complete with a dedicated Samuel Butler , a sunset Champagne toast , and dinner party for two featuring regional specialties and French wines , followed by stargazing . For the main event , a powerful telescope perches on the entourage ’s bird’s-eye patio .

Thrillist recently got a taste of this delightfully over - the - top approach to enjoying the wonders of the Nox sky , when I traveled to the hotel for a short stumble satiate with activities , including a special dinner party followed by stargazing in theMont Blanc Suite .

The suite , which spans the intact fifth story of the hotel with its five bedroom and seven balconies , boasts contemporary interior decoration and alpine finish that give it both expressive style and warmth . And the food that Nox was equally fancy : Lean Fish Carpaccio served with green tomato gazpacho infused with tagetes , Red Mullet with Zucchinis in Three Ways with vervain and bouillabaisse sauce , and sweet of Hogweed - Flavored Fig Flowers with Savoy wine-coloured . The food for thought was skilful , but the stargazing experience is what drew me halfway across the world to this lavish dinner where , for a moment there , I found myself Googling what a “ tagete ” is under the table .

The meal conclude with additional pour of wine and samples of the local digestif , Génépi , just as member ofMont D’Arbois Astronomiefiled into the room with a treasure trove of cloggy telescope and stargazing equipment they brought just for us . Although they give to us mostly in French , the group ’s passion for stargazing was on full display when they gave us an overview of their work in the area , high spot from their events , and several excerption from their extensive library of astrophotography ( you could check out some of it yourself on theirwebsite ) . The real fun came when we took our remaining nips of Génépi outside to a balcony where they ’d ready up some of the biggest telescopes I ’ve ever run across for our Nox of dream together . We did n’t get to see as much as we ’d hoped thanks to some truly high-risk luck with cloudy weather , but the overall experience was nonetheless memorable thanks to the food , the citizenry , and the unbeatable setting — a night of stargazing befitting a Ithiel Town like Megève .

Adventure Doesn’t Mean Roughing It at This Luxury French Alps Retreat

In addition to the A Night Above the Clouds package , the concierge is always happy to arrange other bespoke stargazing experience for guest , an evening at the observatory , according to a representative for the hotel .

Of course , you’re able to discover deal of other mode to take vantage of Megève ’s fulgurous night sky beyond sumptuousness hotel offerings . For a more local feel , area rental company likeCamping Bornardcan hooking you up with your own holiday chalet stashed in the heart of the mountain . And if you really want to rough it , the warm months are ideal for pitching a collapsible shelter and inebriate up the night ’s illusion with little between you and the cosmos . There are also a surprising turn ofigloosandyurtsthat you could give by snowshoeing through the woods in the winter month for cozy dinners , nighttime salary increase , and stargazing .

Between skiing and stargazing , you might not have metre for much else . But if you ’re attend for a break from the incline , channelize into the hamlet for a leisurely stroll through the cobblestone streets littered with shop , boulangeries , and cafes . While there , do n’t missLe Hibou Blanc — notable for its lever fondu , it ’s also a great blank space to intermit and take in a mug of absolutely spirit - changing hot hot chocolate ( seriously ) . Each cupful comes with a hillock of fresh whipped cream that towers out of the glassware like Mont Blanc itself , plus a modest square of dark chocolate on the side for good measure .

ski slopes in megeve, france

JARRY/TRIPELON/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

And that ’s just the beginning . Megève is absolutely obsessed with food , and it really shows at standout restaurants likeNous , Indie Mountain , and the Michelin - starredLa Table de l’AlpagaandFlocons de Sel . For something unexpected , try Japanese - fusion specialistKaitoat the Four Seasons , where you could give in to your craving for fresh sushi and Egyptian pound crispy slices of peking duck in the same sitting .

Christmastime in Megève is particularly special , when the entire townspeople transform into a wizardly life - sized coke globe . thing kick off the first week of December with the lighting of a massive Christmas tree , a decennary - onetime custom that routinely draw 1000 of revelers to the town square toes . The rest of the month is fill with festive events , including aChristmas market , melodic performances and caroling , parade , reindeer visits , and much more . The big holiday celebration culminates withSoirée du Nouvel An , a New Year ’s Eve celebration where those same revelers return to the square for freemugs of mulled wineserved from a giant cauldron and a night - long bash fuel by DJ performances and live music .

But do n’t permit all the partying distract you from Megève ’s dependable feature — for that , all you have to do is look up .

four seasons hotel megeve