Chamonix’s Hotel Les Aiglons Elevates Alpine Hospitality
The hotel recently reopened after stylish renovation.
Photo by Fabrice Rambert
Amid the lively recreation spirit of the Alps, the picturesque town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is the beating heart. At 1,035 metres above sea level, Chamonix sits at the foot of some of Europe’s most impressive peaks, including Mont Blanc, L’Auguille du Midi, and Brévent, near the junction of Switzerland, Italy, and France, making it a bucket list destination for nature lovers.
Despite being a popular tourist destination for decades, the town, with its picturesque gabled roofs, Juliet balconies, and immersion in nature, has retained its charm, and one hotel has captured all of Chamonix’s alpine personality in a recently unveiled renovation. Formerly Le Refuge des Aiglons, the four-star hotel has reopened as Hotel Les Aiglons, a stylish mountain retreat with an enviable spa and an impressive list of partnerships.
Ranging from 215 to 538 square feet, each of the 107 rooms—a variety of classic, superior, junior suite, and family rooms—is bright and comfortable with spectacular views. Completed by SZ Design, the hotel’s interiors feel like the cozy and eclectic lounge of a luxe alpine mansion. Loads of textiles, leather, and most of all, wood—panelling the walls, in parquet flooring, and accenting the furnishings—give it the chalet vibe, while contemporary silhouettes and playful touches—like log bed pillows and patterned tiles—take it beyond the typical mountain retreat.
“We like involving guests in an unusual experience and always provide a customized constituent,” says designer Saar Zafrir. “Regarding the Hotel Les Aiglons, we concentrated on both snug and glamour appearances.” He and his team looked to the power of the hotel’s picturesque environment for inspiration for the materials and focused on highlighting the location’s views and experiences. “We imagined a lifestyle inspired by local activities and both French and Italian cultural resources,” Zafrir says.
Central to the spirit of Les Aiglons is the hotel bar, which is in a lofty light-filled atrium with a glass ceiling and a rock-covered statement wall. Oversized armchairs and a fireplace make the space a particularly inviting place to enjoy an après-ski cocktail.
Nearby, Casa Nonna restaurant whips up tantalizing bites in the copper-gilded pizza oven, focusing on local and in-season ingredients. Expect dishes like panettone pudding and tartiflette potato gratin or take advantage of the grab-and-go snacks for a mountainside meal.
After a physically intense day of hiking or skiing in the Alps, a visit to Deep Nature Spa is divine. Beyond a menu of massages, facials, body treatments, and manis and pedis, guests can relax in the large outdoor heated pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and hammam steam room.
A number of high-end partnerships ensure an unparalleled experience for visitors. To maximize their time outdoors, guests can shop in the local brand Skimium’s 960-square-foot boutique and have their purchase delivered directly to their room or rent equipment from the Millet shop on the first floor. And for those who love singing their hearts out, the hotel has partnered with Bam Karaoke Box to create two vibrant private karaoke rooms.
“We are convinced that Hotel Les Aiglons is, besides room comfort, a new place of life for local customers with an additional and trendy service offer,” says hotel director Alain D’Addio. “The Bam Karaoke Box rooms are part of it.”
