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When you enter the Tarentaise valley you enter a landscape where all the power and splendour of the Alps are gradually revealed. Now the gateway to the world's largest ski area, it also has a very long history, some of which can still be seen in the traditional housing. But to discover it, you sometimes have to take the back roads. It is true in this case. With its sturdy roof structure, thick stone walls and wooden balconies, Chalet Irène, like its few neighbours, has stood the test of time. However, it has let in all the warmth of modern comforts, while preserving the traces of its former life dedicated to mountain pasture work. Sports enthusiasts will find plenty to do in the surrounding area, while others will be mesmerised by the beauty of the peaks and the tranquillity of the surroundings.
We discovered this chalet and the hamlet of Planay Dessous in December 2020, in the middle of the Covid crisis, when all the ski lifts were at a standstill. On our first snowshoe hike through the various hamlets of the Haute Tarentaise, we were charmed by this hamlet with its traditional houses, including the "Chalet Chevalier" with its typical mountain architecture. The uninterrupted view of Mont Pourri, one of the most beautiful peaks in Savoie, standing at 3 779 m tall, and the Tarentaise valley, were the finishing touches that made buying the chalet a no-brainer.
Its architecture reflects mountain lifestyles and the weather constraints of the region, with stone walls which are over a metre thick. Its roof is covered with stone slates, and its façade is adorned with typical wooden balconies. The chalet includes a mazot, a small rustic stone farmhouse that served as a "multi-purpose safe" for storing important papers, cereals, food and precious objects. It was also a pied-à-terre for mountain dwellers from the Valais. It now houses a bedroom with an en-suite shower room. The chalet has a 300 m² landscaped garden which was recently laid out by a local landscape gardener, who is committed to preserving the mountain environment and biodiversity, and who has adapted his designs to the altitude and resources available.
The history of the chalet dates back to 1798, the date inscribed with a rosette on a purlin head - a horizontal beam laid at the time of its construction - found in the garden. In the 19th century, it was used mainly as a shelter for farmers and shepherds, as well as a place to store farming tools and hay, and sometimes as temporary accommodation during busy seasons. With the decline of agriculture, the rural exodus and the development of ski resorts in the 1960s and 1970s, the chalet was converted into a home. It belonged to several English families in the 1990s, then was run as a gîte from 2000 to 2017, before we became the owners.
We carried out a "sustainable" renovation by reusing existing materials. Every detail has been carefully thought out to ensure optimum comfort. Each room has been furnished and decorated with works by local artists and locally made furniture. We offer a range of services, including an in-home chef who cooks traditional or modern dishes (100% home-cooked gourmet cuisine using regional and organic produce). Other services include the delivery and collection of ski equipment directly from the chalet, as well as the organisation of a multitude of activities on request: off-piste skiing, forest walks with guides on snowshoes or skis, paragliding, heli-skiing with a helicopter drop-off from Italy, climbing, mountain biking, hiking.
In Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise you'll find an institution that's been running for over 40 years: Chez Mérie, one of the best restaurants in the region. “Le Goyet" is also an excellent restaurant in the charming village of Villaroger. "Le 1580m” is ideal after a day on the slopes or hiking for the best coffee in the resort. The “Garde-Manger” is only open in the summer, but chef Florence Machet can come and prepare delicious meals at the chalet in the winter. Special mention for the excellent "Génépi" and Nadine's warm welcome. The "filature Arpin", whose machinery is a national heritage site, is an artisanal institution founded in 1817 and one of the last houses to weave and manufacture finished products and made-to-measure items from raw fleece.
The chalet is located in a very quiet hamlet, with breathtaking views of Mont Pourri and the Tarentaise valley. Guests have access to the whole of the property. The accommodation capacity is for 15 people, with 6 bedrooms available.
ref 879141
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