Falstaff Magazin International Nr. 3/2022

Sweet temptation The

Sweet temptation The Piste Noire chocolaterie sells hand-made chocolates and confectionary. pistenoire-courchevel.com AMAN LE MÉLÉZIN The hotel, which has 31 bedrooms and suites, takes its name from the larch trees (mélèze in French) in the forests that surround it. Inside, the oak-panelled interiors, clear lines and picture windows create a sense of tranquillity. Two of the hotel’s four floors are devoted to the spa area, with a pool, hammam and a sauna. Doubles with half board from approx. £1,000 per person. aman.com CHEVAL BLANC This luxe hotel sits in the prestigious Jardin Alpin, and offers direct access to the ski slopes. With only 36 bedrooms, it is practically a boutique hotel, albeit one renowned for unsurpassed service. Alongside its ski in, ski out amenities, Cheval Blanc has a choice of gastronomical offerings that include the region’s only restaurant with three Michelin stars. After a strenuous day on the pistes, head to the sensational Guerlain spa for absolutely sublime relaxation. Doubles with half board from approx. £955 per person. chevalblanc.com Photos: Jerome Morin, jc photos, S. Candito, S. Julliard, Daniel Herendi, Fabrice Rambert LES AIRELLES COURCHEVEL On the slopes of Courchevel, a fairy-tale palace rises out of the trees, as proud as a 19th-century Austro-Hungarian castle. This is one of the most exclusive hotels in the Alps, and it’s where discerning winter enthusiasts come to stay. Guests enjoy first access to the La Saulire piste with its crisp powder snow and picture-perfect mountain views at sunrise; later, there’s the promise of restorative relaxation at the La Mer spa. Doubles including half board from approx. £740 per person. airelles.com HOTEL BARRIÈRE LES NEIGES This resort sits in a prime spot at the foot of the legendary Bellecôte piste in Courchevel 1850. With only 42 bedrooms and suites, it is one of the most intimate hotels in this exuberant skin resort. After dining at Fouquet’s or one of the other four in-house eateries, guests can kick back in the cigar lounge. Doubles including half board from £780 per person. hotelsbarriere.com winter 2022/23 falstaff 61

travel / SKI RESORTS KITZBÜHEL The place with a positive attitude to life. The number of regular visitors is high, the luxury chalets are sought after, and those who are lucky enough (and of course have the money) to acquire a second home in Kitzbühel can’t help but feel like an emperor – an appropriate designation for someone with a view of the spectacular Wilder Kaiser mountain massif with its perfect ski slopes in winter and wonderful hiking opportunities in summer. It is hard to believe that the tourism pioneer Franz Reisch, who first brought skiing to Tyrol in 1892, had to order his ski equipment from Norway. He had read the book On Snowshoes through Greenland by the polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen, whose skis were an astonishing 2.30 metres long. By 1895, however, ski racing was taking place in Kitzbühel, a village that became a winter sports icon as a result of the legendary Hahnenkamm race, which has been held there since 1931. The Streif is still considered to be one of the world’s most difficult downhill ski courses. It is awe-inspiring to see the famous Mausefalle for real. This is the steepest section of the Streif, with an 85 percent decline, where athletes jump as far as 80 metres at speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour. You can of course also find easier slopes on the 233 kilometres of downhill ski runs around Kitzbühel and there are 57 cable cars in operation. The region also has some of the most beautiful spa facilities in Austria, such as at the Schlosshotel A-ROSA, for example, which boasts a luxurious 3,000-square-metre wellness area. For those less interested in the quiet life, the nightlife in Kitzbühel is worth checking out. There’s every chance you’ll end up sipping champagne next to a celebrity. From mid-November until after Easter, the Kitzbühel mountains are a fabulous place for young and old. 62 falstaff winter 2022/23