Like the larch, rooted in the earth and basking in the sunshine
Trees are most definitely one of Mother Nature's finest creations and the larch, emblematic of the village of Chantemerle, home to the Best Western Premier of the same name, stands apart from the others. The slender outline of this conifer, that unusually loses its needles in winter, thrives in the Mediterranean climate of the Southern Alps to which it contributes. Some larch trees have been known to live for 800 years. For centuries, artists have used its resin under the name of Venetian turpentine, which is behind the luminous enameled finish so distinctive of Pre-Raphaelite art. Its characteristic discreetly scented wood is rot-proof, which explains its prevalence in the construction of alpine houses.
The timbered facade and many other decorative features of the Best Western Premier Serre Chevalier Chalet 52 are made from larch wood. A proud representative of the Guisane Valley and of its world-renowned Serre Chevalier ski resort, the hotel has generously called upon local traditions, not for marketing purposes, but because they have proven their worth over the centuries in the special climate of this unique setting. While Serre Chevalier is indeed one of the oldest ski resorts in the world (when it was inaugurated in 1941, Chantemerle's cabin lift was already the longest in Europe), it is above all an "archipelago" of authentic villages (one of which is Chantemerle), nestling round churches and attached to their trees and to a heritage that their children never truly leave, even when they become world-class champions, such as Luc Alphand. You are in the heart of the Parc National des Ecrins, at the foot of its most stunning peaks, Montagne des Agneaux and Dôme du Monetier. What sets this environment so apart in the alpine leisure world is its distinctive mixture of Mediterranean and alpine influences. From the skier's point of view, the combination of snow and sun is unbeatable. This distinctive quality can literally be smelt in the delicate fragrances of its spring flowers but also in the remnants of its rich legacy. The crowned eagle coat of arms, to which all the little villages bear allegiance, belonged to the Borel du Bez family for many centuries before they bequeathed it to the resort, convinced that it would carry on the site's authenticity in the shape of one of Europe's most beautiful skiing domains.
If Serre Chevalier was voted the number one "well-being village resort" of the Alps in 2007, it is most definitely because it has never lost touch with its roots. It makes as much case of Briançon's Vauban fortifications, on Unesco's worldwide heritage list, as of its surfing "half-pipes". The resort seeks as much to share the frescoes in its chapels as its cutting-edge ski lifts, the characteristic sundials of its old houses as its off-piste skiing and its artificial snow machinery as its commitment to the environment. All of which are fundamental to the genuine and lasting happiness of skiers from all horizons, even though very few resorts in the world actually manage to pull off such a feat.
The Best Western Premier Serre Chevalier Chalet 52 has also created a rare balance between tradition and international standards for the joy of its guests. Behind its characteristic outline that blends in so perfectly with the village, the hotel offers one of the region's most outstanding levels of comfort: this dual personality combines log fires with dryers for ski shoes, superlative views with gigantic flat screens, regional gastronomy with a heated indoor-outdoor pool and a sophisticated modern interior decoration with a warm alpine ambience, etc. Faithful to the character of its village and the worldwide reputation of its 250 kilometres of ski slopes, the hotel has become one of Chantemerle's "most beautiful trees", with its roots firmly embedded in the alpine soil and its head up in the Mediterranean sunshine.
| Best Western Premier Serre Chevalier Chalet 52 |
| Allée des Petits Plans, Serre Chevalier, France - F-05330 |
| Phone: +33 4 92 22 20 90 Fax: +33 4 92 46 98 62 |
| Email: reservations@bestwestern-chantemerle.com |
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