45°35'58"N 6°53'16"E La Masure Hideaway, France

In a high mountain valley rest the twin hamlets of La Masure and Le Miroir, a brace of protected settlements straddling a stream; here is where you’ll find Alma La Masure, a picture-perfect dwelling dating to 1761. Balconies jut into the sunlight from ancient stonework walls, shaded by timber beams; a fire crackles on the hearth.     

Interiors embrace the aesthetic of permanence and simplicity, celebrating the rustic, the organic and the natural; hand-hewn milking stools, sheepskin throws and Savoyard folk art add life and texture. A contemporary refit has sensitively updated traditional period features without erasing their character, lending 21st-century comfort to age-old essentials. 

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the open-plan living and dining space reveal breathtaking panoramas; four ensuite bedrooms comfortably sleep eight guests; and a fitted kitchen provides plenty of space to cater for your companions. Two lower floors house a film-projection room and boot room with underfloor heating. 

Alma La Masure’s owners have not only shared their home, but their love of the local region and its special sense of place – there’s a magic here, a sense of being transported into the pages of a days-gone-by novel. In this living dream, the romance and lure of the mountains is unmatched.

How far to the nearest…

• Resident neighbour 5m
• Shop 11km
• Restaurant 11km
• Ski lifts 10km
• Airport 160km/2h (Geneva)
  

Location La Masure is set in a completely car-free Alpine hamlet at an altitude of 1,214m – it’s peaceful, pastoral, and picturesque. Parking is available a two-minute walk away.

Altitude 1,200m.

Build The original 18th-century building has been sensitively restored to retain as many original features as possible, while introducing contemporary technology. Thick stone walls and wooden timbers provide perfect natural insulation.

Energy Power is drawn from the local electricity grid. The chalet has a wood-burning stove and open fireplace.

Community Alma La Masure has developed an incredible network of friends and partners, a community of like-minded folks to draw on for inspiration and knowledge while you’re staying; concierge Anne-Katherine can introduce you to local chefs, mountain guides and wellness practitioners who share the same goal of reconnection and respect for nature.

Digital detox WiFi available, but the phone signal and WiFi in the mountains aren’t always strong.

Creature comforts Coffee maker; iPod dock and speakers; Smart TVs in projection room; fondue and raclette sets in the kitchen; children’s sleds to borrow.

Winter’s snows are deep and lasting, with ski slopes open December to April. Spring dots pastures and meadows with a constellation of Alpine flowers. And come summer, this sheltered spot between two mountain valleys means sunshine is plentiful and rainshowers brief.

Engage

The long, light days of late spring and summer call for adventures on hiking trails through the breathtaking scenery of the Vanoise National Park. In winter, don crampons or snowshoes and explore the mountains, or try snowboarding or backcountry skiing to your doorstep – take the shuttle bus to Sainte-Foy Station and you can ski right back to the chalet. Some of the best ski slopes in France are within easy reach, too, including Tignes and Val d’Isère; the Les Arcs’ chair lifts are minutes away.

Savour

Stroll over to Chez Mérie restaurant in Le Miroir for delicious menus made with fresh seasonal ingredients; or try regional Savoyard cuisine at Le Bistrot du Monal. Invite chefs Teresa or Florence to cook for you using produce they’ve grown or foraged themselves. A fondue or raclette night is a traditional Haute-Savoie speciality – buy cheese locally and make your own at the chalet.

Go slow

Keep watch for marmots, Alpine ibex, chamoix and wolves; turn your eyes to the skies to spot birdlife from Golden eagles to ptarmigans and rare bearded vultures.
Tell it to the mountains: breathe deep and let go of what no longer serves you. Mountain guide Thibaud can show you scenery perfect for contemplating the scale of the universe. Put a log on the fire and engage with the crackle, hum and colour of the flames.