GQ Magazine

In 1924, she restored an old guesthouse overlooking the village and commissioned a young architect to build her a traditional mountain chalet. He went on to build another 200 in the surrounding area, ensuring that Megève remained picture-perfect while other resorts brought in the concrete mixers.

In the 1950s, Megève welcomed more than its fair share of distinguished visitors, to the point that the eclectic Jean Cocteau called it “the 21st arrondissement of Paris.” It’s not hard to see why it’s so appealing: today there are over 500 km² of slopes, quick and easy access to Chamonix and beyond for high-altitude skiing and heliskiing, and one of the region’s most famous hotels.

Cocteau and his party companions had chosenthe Hotel Mont-Blanc as their base—40 rooms right in the heart of the city—where he decorated the restaurant (named Les Enfants Terribles after his fourth novel) and introduced a host of stars to the charm of the place. So today, in addition to his fresco in the dining room (recently restored to its 1950s splendor, featuring an excellent Steak au Poivre) and his quotes engraved on the beams of the champagne bar, Le George, you’ll find an “Enfants Terribles” suite, a “Sacha Distel” suite, and a “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” suite—the latter named after the first film adaptation directed by Roger Vadim (whose wife, Brigitte Bardot, was also a guest there).

Of course, there’s also an award-winning spa, complete with a snow room, sauna, hot tub, and indoor pool, but if you’d rather enjoy Savoyard cuisine, we recommend booking a table at its lively bistro, then heading over to George’s, ordering a hot chocolate after skiing, and watching all of Megève go by...

WHEN TO GO

February is usually the best time for snow, but January is generally a little less crowded.

THE SUITE IS AVAILABLE FOR RESERVATION

The Enfants Terribles Suite, overlooking the village square.

WHAT TO SEE

The annual BMW Snow Polo Masters takes place over the weekend of January 23–25.

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