Review of Hotel Mont Blanc, by Christoph Hargreaves-Allen

The so-called grande dame of Megeve was baptised by Jean Cocteau in the 21st arrondissment of Paris and is renowned for a kind of Shaker chic. The luxury hotel situated in the location where Roger Vadim filmed his "Liaisons Dangereuses" and has long been frequented by admirers of the Alpine fantasy from Charles Aznavour and Rita Hayworth to ex-President Mitterand. Picturesquely located by the church in the centre of Megeve, it feels like a farm in the style of Marie Antoinette - which is to say, total luxury.

The facilities

The first impression of the luxury hotel is of light wood panelling, wood carvings of bears, an old grandfather clock and solid antique cabinets. Then, the kitchen is as homey as the cosiest spread on an Idaho ranch, with thick rugs on Labrador-coloured wooden floors, glazed milk jugs on pretty table cloths and pine-cone handles on the hand-cut wooden crockery shelves. The luxury hotel's drawing room, on the other hand, is a study in the perfect Alpine hideaway, snug but sophisticated, with richly textured plaid-covered sofas, ragged leather-bound books next to a discreet brick fireplace, understated lighting and overall the air of the home of a highly civilised family. The restaurant at the luxury hotel features an open kitchen where guests can watch their food being prepared. Frescos cover the walls giving the dining experience its own unique feel.

The rooms

The bedrooms at the luxury hotel are rustic and comfortable, with quilts several inches deep, wallpaper depicting horses and the recurring motif of a heart in hidden corners. You might want to consider the suite with a mountain view. There is an indoor Jacuzzi and swimming pool. Featured in many interiors and style magazines, this and the other rooms in the luxury Hotel Mont-Blanc present a refined picture of Alpine hospitality.