French Alps

Savoy is the classic French Alps at their most dramatic: jagged peaks, high mountain passes, glacial valleys and historic villages surrounded by some of Europe’s most celebrated ski terrain. Traditional architecture was born from necessity, with stone foundations, heavy timber, steep roofs and buildings designed to withstand long winters. Yet the region also has an important Modernist legacy, particularly in purpose-built resorts such as Courchevel, where architects experimented with a radically different vision of Alpine living. Today, the best new projects draw from both traditions, combining local stone and timber with cleaner lines, contemporary art and interiors that move well beyond the predictable luxury chalet.

Food and drink are fundamental to the Savoyard experience. Mountain cheeses such as Beaufort, Reblochon and Tomme de Savoie remain the foundations of dishes built for cold days, while fondue, raclette and tartiflette are still irresistible after hours outside. But the region’s culinary ambitions now extend far beyond chalet classics. Michelin-starred restaurants, inventive mountain kitchens and increasingly sophisticated hotel dining work with Alpine herbs, local farms and regional producers. Savoie also has a distinctive wine culture, with indigenous grapes such as Jacquère and Mondeuse producing fresh mountain wines that deserve considerably more attention.

Savoy’s most interesting hotels are increasingly redefining what an Alpine retreat can be. Historic chalets and village houses coexist with Modernist icons, intimate mountain hideaways and ambitious contemporary hotels where architecture, art and exceptional restaurants matter as much as ski-in, ski-out access. At DNA Hotels, we curate the places where design, food and the extraordinary Alpine landscape become inseparable—hotels that prove the French mountains can deliver much more than fur throws, antlers and predictable chalet luxury.