Rent a Luxury Chalet in the French Alps

A timeless destination blessed with an awe-inspiring natural grandeur that has long captured the hearts of travellers and poets alike, the French Alps, the jewel in this most celebrated of countries' crown, is a region of sensational ski and culinary delights par excellence. Discover Villanovo's handpicked selection of luxury chalets, from Megève to Chamonix and Courchevel, and enjoy a break wrapped in the exquisite beauty of the world's premiere winter destination. 

A handpicked selection of catered and self-catered private chalets

At Villanovo, our chalet specialists have carefully selected a number of superb luxury holiday rental chalets for you to enjoy during your stay in the mountains. Since we know our clients are individuals, with their own unique tastes and requirements, we have sought to provide a selection of exceptional catered and self-catered accommodation to meet every desire.

From cosy chalets to share with your family on the slopes of Mont Blanc to large luxury holiday rentals to share with groups of friends overlooking the shores of Lake Geneva, our collection of spectacular properties offer everything from indoor swimming pools, hot tubs and spas to fitness rooms, spacious terraces with panoramic views and intimate cinema rooms, from rustic lodges to contemporary architect-designed chalets, all provided with a tasteful eye for décor and the necessary equipment and facilities for you to feel truly at home in the French Alps.

Let our concierge assist in planning the alpine holiday you deserve

At Villanovo, we are on-hand to assist in the planning of your perfect alpine escape. Speak to our dedicated concierge service, detailing your ideal winter holiday and we'll make the necessary arrangements to help you make it a reality. From organising yoga classes, a private chef or babysitter, car hire, ski passes, equipment hire or airport transfer, we can put our local contacts and experience to use, so that you can prepare for your holiday safe in the knowledge that everything is in-hand.

Speak to our local chalet specialists and concierge service today and see how we can help you experience the holiday in the French Alps you deserve.

See the world's finest ski resorts

Megève, Val d'Isere, Courchevel 1850, Méribel... truly wonderful places, synonymous with the world of skiing (and après ski!), and rightfully heralded for their stunning beauty and timeless charm. Offering almost 8500km of pistes and 2300 ski lifts spread over some 140 resorts and divided into several key areas, such as Paradiski, Evasion Mont Blanc, the vast Three Valleys (the largest interconnected ski area in the world) and Tignes-Val d'Isere, the French Alps truly is the premier ski destination in the world.

Among our favourite resorts you will find:

• The mythical destination of Chamonix, an exquisite winter haven where the thrill of paragliding and dog sledding complements the first-class ski. When you book a luxury chalet in Chamonix you are gaining access to one of the finest ski locations in the French Alps, and therefore the world. A brilliant family-friendly resort that boasts delightfully powdery snow and top-class facilities, as well as pistes to match every skill level (there are two ski schools for little ones…). Summer skiing is available at higher altitudes reachable via the famous Aiguille du Midi ski lift - the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world, where the 360 panoramas are truly breath-taking.
• La Plagne, a trendy destination throughout the year, boasts a massive ski area nestled in the heart of Paradiski. It offers a snowpark for freeriders, excellent après-ski facilities, and Michelin-starred dining options, and a wonderfully family-friendly environment.
• The epitome of elegance and luxury in the French Alps, Courchevel 1850 has been drawing visitors to its famous slopes and glamourous villages for over 80 years. This achingly beautiful region is located on the eastern edge of the Trois Vallées ski area (which includes Méribel and Val Thorens), the largest interconnected ski region in the world, with access to over 600km of pistes to enjoy, Courchevel provides some fantastic runs, from vast wide slopes where you can really stretch out to tricky couloirs and scenic forest pistes, alongside the finest in amenities, including six Michelin-starred restaurants, bubbly nightlife and high-end shopping. It's little wonder that the world's elite, including royalty, regularly pay a visit to this prestigious resort in the French Alps. 
• Located in the Tarentaise valley, Tignes enjoys a reputation as among the most snow-sure resorts in the French Alps, with much of the skiing taking place above 2000m. Together with the Val d'Isere it makes up the beautiful Espace Killy, ski region, which comprises 300km of pistes - many of which are partially located on glaciers - for skiing and snowboarding as well as 79 ski lifts to tie everything together. And as you might expect at such high altitudes, the snow conditions are excellent. The pistes vary in difficulty, with approximately one sixth classified as the more challenging black runs, just over half as blue runs - ideal for beginners - and around a quarter intermediate red runs, meaning there really is something to cater to every level of ability. 
• Conceived by the Rothschilds as a French alternative to St Moritz, the celebrated ski region of Megève has been welcoming la crème of European society to its luxury chalets, charming restaurants and slopes for over 100 years. Its 450km network of ski runs include pistes to suit every level, as well as powder-filled spots for snowboarders to test their skills. Meanwhile, the après ski in Megève is as good as anywhere you can hope to find in the Alps, with the top restaurants serving local haute cuisine a particularly strong draw. 
• Set at the foot of the majestic Mont Blanc between the popular resorts of Chamonix and Megève, the pleasant spa town of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains offers a charming retreat for those looking to make the most of the nearby ski domain of Evasion Mont Blanc, the challenging mountaineering of the Bionnassay glacier, and, of course, the thermal baths that lend the town its name. 
• The relatively small area of Méribel was established as a ski resort back in the 1930s and has remained an emblematic European ski destination ever since, every year attracting an exclusive crowd of winter-sports enthusiasts, who come to stay in luxury chalets and make the most of the premium ski experience on the vast network of interconnected slopes.
• Choose Saint Martin de Belleville for a quiet, family-oriented destination with a focus on relaxation. This charming resort offers the same easy access to the Trois Vallées ski resort as many of the bigger names, albeit with a cosy, lived-in ambience to complement the first-class skiing and awe-inspiring natural beauty of the gorgeous snow-globe surroundings. 

To stay in one of our elegant chalets in The French Alps is to wake up within easy reach of the world's premier ski destinations.

Enjoy the après-ski: from family-friendly spots to group parties

When taking a holiday in the French Alps the après ski is almost as important as the skiing itself. This is an area in which the region of the French Alps once again excels, providing first-class bars and evening entertainment to match the constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants dotted throughout the region. 

From the livelier après-ski scenes of Chamonix, Méribel and Val Thorens to the sophisticated air of Courchevel 1850 and Megève and the more family-oriented atmosphere in Courchevel 1650, La Plagne and Morzine, the region is brimming with fantastic places to eat, drink and be merry after a long day on the slopes. 

Enjoy a mouth-watering meal or sip a cocktail in a cosy lodge, or dance into the early hours surrounded by friends in these exquisite alpine surroundings. 

Further activities in the sumptuous alpine landscape 

With majestic snow-covered peaks and sumptuous valleys, mirror-like lakes and pretty forests cascading down the mountain sides, the French Alps inspire in its visitors a sense of deep calm and child-like awe. It's a winter wonderland ripe for exploring, and while many choose to do so by skiing, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy this special landscape. 

• Snowshoeing offers a great way to explore the landscape while filling your lungs with the crisp alpine air, While the all-ages favourite of ice-skating lets you take in the graceful alpine ambience without expending quite so much energy. 
• For an experience sure to live long in the children's memories, you can go husky mushing (sledding), and steer a course through the frosty firs or take an unforgettable hot-air balloon ride over the peaks. 
• Those in search of more hi-octane experiences may opt for snowmobiling or paragliding, both of which are widely available in the French Alps. 
• And for a gentler experience, why not try your hand at ice sculpting or igloo building? Workshops can be arranged in many of the destinations. 
• Then, there are the more high-end favourites, such as boutique shopping, fine dining and pampering at the many spas available throughout the region. 

Discover the French Alps in the Summer

Beyond the obvious appeal of the region's winter sports, the splendour of the French Alps in summer offers another reason for lovers of The Great Outdoors to visit this fabulous region. As the blankets of snow gives way to the warmer weather the magnificent pine-topped mountains turn a lush green and the stillness of the crisp winter months is replaced by the gentle radiance of a mountainside brought to life.

This provides an unforgettable setting for hiking (with countless trails to discover), biking and all manner of outdoor pursuits: take on a via ferrata soundtracked by the roar of a nearby waterfall, visit the quaint villages and rustic mountain huts serving hearty local cuisine, explore the terrain on horseback or simply take the car around the serpentine roads that wind throughout and stop off to enjoy the spectacular panoramas that abound. Lovers of nature and outdoor activities will find no-end of possibilities in this sensational year-round outdoor location.

Speak to our local experts or discover our guide to the region's unmissable activities for more information.