Yonder

The pitch: an original concept for its time, still relevant today

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Before building their own collection of addresses, Jocelyne and Jean-Louis Sibuet already operated the small Coin du Feu hotel in Megève. But the couple wanted to give life to a different project, " something with a soul, something that didn't exist at the time". Jean-Louis Sibuet's vision could be summed up in one sentence: using old wooden farmhouses collected in the region, to reconstitute a Savoyard hamlet of interconnecting chalets. To build a place that would be exclusive, but where you'd feel right at home.

Between 1980 and 1984, the hotelier traveled the region, acquiring old mazots and chalets, numbering the wooden parts, dismantling and storing them all. At the same time, Jocelyne Sibuet hunts for antique furniture. In the space of five years, over two thousand pieces were refurbished and stored in a former carpentry workshop. Working day and night, the Sibuets also built up a large collection of traditional objects from the region.

At the end of the 1980s, with his " boys ", ski instructors and mountain guides, Jean-Louis took advantage of the off-season to build Les Fermes de Marie on a large plot of land bought from a farmer. He took the opposite approach to the hotels of the time. The rooms were spacious, often offering more than 30 m², the bathrooms were large, and the art of mountain living was celebrated everywhere. Tradition, authenticity and simplicity combine to create an exclusive, elegant and refined atmosphere, with attention to the smallest detail and a contemporary feel.

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How's the hotel?

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From around 30 rooms when the hotel first opened, Les Fermes de Marie now boasts a total of 70 keys, with the addition this year of a series of chalets available to rent in their entirety. The exquisite taste of Jocelyne Sibuet, who designed the decor, has never wavered. The immense spa or the most recently renovated suites are a natural extension of the original design, an ode to tradition and mountain life.

The walls are covered in wood, the beams are obviously exposed, the floor tiles have a patina, and the old-fashioned pottery lines up in warm colors. Peasant clocks, hunting trophies, family portraits and leather-crusted books adorn the dining rooms. The warm, intimate lounges give the impression of an ideal country home. You'll feel right at home in this very French interior, the Sibuet family's homage to their Alpine origins.

The hotel also boasts one of the most complete high-altitude spas in the French Alps, covering more than 1,000^m2. The indoor pool is complemented by an adults-only swim lane, numerous saunas, hammams, whirlpools and no fewer than 13 treatment cabins. Most of the facilities are open to the outside thanks to large picture windows.

In terms of dining, the traditional restaurant offers gourmet French cuisine, while the mountain restaurant serves the " best fondue in Megève " according to the jury of the Toquicimes gastronomic event. During our stay, we tasted a delicious "VGE black truffle soup ", a tribute to the late Paul Bocuse, and prepared according to the rules of the art. It's hard to see how it differs from the original Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or recipe. While the service remains judiciously relaxed, the level of cuisine flirts with the Michelin star, at the prices of fine Parisian brasseries.

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And the bedrooms?

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They are in keeping with the common areas of the hotel. Warmth, tradition and comfort remind us that authenticity and simplicity can rhyme with elegance and refinement. The soul is so strong that the decor is sure to stand the test of time and fashion. The rooms at Les Fermes de Marie are rare and unique places where beautiful materials rhyme with antique furniture, wool cushions, plaids and animal skins. Windows overlooking the hamlet's inner courtyards or the neighboring peaks offer pleasant views. All the standards of 5-star comfort in a typical mountain hotel.

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Things to remember

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Thirty years after its opening, Les Fermes de Marie remains the jewel in the crown of the Maisons et Hôtels Sibuet collection, which now includes a dozen establishments in the mountains (Hôtel Mont-Blanc and Lodge Park also in Megève), in sunny Provence (La Bastide de Marie), on the Côte d'Azur (Villa Marie Saint-Tropez) or in the Caribbean (Gyp Sea Saint-Barth). The hotel, a pioneer in its style, will delight lovers of traditional ambience, eager to let themselves be carried away by the gentle lifestyle of mountain living.

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Where is it?

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Slightly outside the heart of Megève village, about ten minutes on foot. Shuttle buses take you to the various ski slopes or to the village center (departure of the "Le Chamois" gondola right next to Place de l'Église).

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5 things we loved about Les Fermes de Marie

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• Thewarm atmosphere of a traditional family mountain home, where every decorative detail is carefully considered;
• The Pure Altitude Spa: over 1,000^{m2 dedicated} to well-being;
• The Traditional French Restaurant, starred in the past, whose cuisine has lost none of its superb character;
• Romantic , cocooning rooms overlooking the Alpine peaks,
• The inner courtyard, ideal for a hot coffee or lunch on the terrace.

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How much does it cost?

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• Winter: rooms from €300 to €1,100. Suites from €560 to €1,800.
• Summer/Fall: rooms from €180 to €540 and suites from €330 to €940.

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Good to know? The hotel is open all year round.