The Ecurie

The Ecurie is an impeccable ski chalet, run with care and love by its owner, who cooks and chauffeurs and lends stays an excellent personal touch. It is supremely tasteful, immaculately finished and interior designed, and the food and service is first class.

‘Ecurie’ is French for ‘stable’, and The Ecurie is an ancient, tumble-down old stable and mountain alpage, lived in by generations of the same family, that has been superbly refurbished and redesigned into a contemporary mountain retreat and understated luxury ski chalet. It combines gleaming designer fittings and furnishings in muted soft tones with heaps of old wood, natural materials and fabrics to retain the spirit of the old stable. There is also a tasteful, uncluttered selection of Savoie antiques such as old cheese boards, original confiture jars and cow bells, to create a properly cosy, homely ski chalet, as well as a luxurious space.

This stunning St Martin de Belleville catered ski chalet has three sumptuous bedrooms, with space for one more in one of the rooms. All are en suite with baths, fixed-head showers over the bath and separate hand-held shower attachments. There are beautiful granite bath and basin surrounds, with taps and fittings by Italian design company Zazzeri. Plentiful L’Occitane toiletries are supplied, as well as guest dressing gowns and slippers.

Just to note that the owner lives in the fourth bedroom.

The Ecurie is a fully catered chalet and the standard of food is top-notch. Evening meals consist of three courses plus a cheese board with homemade chutney, fruit and nuts, followed by after-dinner truffles. A typical menu might start with roasted beetroot with local goats cheese on warm bread, dressed with charred leeks & greens, toasted walnuts and a balsamic basil reduction. The main might be seared sole fillets with a herb and caper butter, polenta parmigiano and roasted fennel, finishing off with baked pears stuffed with almonds, orange and dark chocolate in filo pastry. 

Breakfasts include a hot option on six of the seven mornings, there is a Champagne reception on arrival, and the dinners are accompanied by sommelier-selected wines and soft drinks.

The Ecurie does not have a spa but nearby is La Bela Vya spa at La Bouitte. The famous 3 Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel, located in a little hamlet up the valley, has an outside Jacuzzi, sauna and treatment rooms, all of which have just been refurbished to make it even more gorgeous. The chalet will happily transport guests there.

Children are very welcome at this luxury ski chalet. There is a stuffed toy box for little ones, a TV/DVD player in the children’s bedroom, early suppers can be arranged, and nannies are available to book.

The immaculate finish and attention to detail — plus the genuinely out of this world food.

Um, hard to think of anything. It isn’t ski in/ski out, but the fantastic in-resort transport service more than compensates.