Practical information

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Five-star hotel L’Armancette Anne-Cécile Quey, Hotel Manager +33 (0)7 84 53 98 37 A summer break at L’armancette Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce

BREATHTAKING VIEWS A VILLAGE HIDDEN AWAY OF THE FOR A REPLENISHING STAY A HOTEL NESTLED AT THE FOOT According to the seasons, fields of powdery snow, OF Wrapped in a blanket of snow in winter, and clover, daisies or sainfoin stretch out around the decorated with meadow flowers in summer, this old farms and chalets. The ‘Chef-Lieu’ chairlift authentic destination is hidden away above Saint- is an antique that has become something of a Gervais-les-Bains, at an altitude of 1150 metres. The hotel L’Armancette is tucked away in the remote valley of local curiosity. In winter and summer, it takes A charming village, miraculously untouched by Montjoie in Haute-Savoie, offering guests a magnificent Alpine passengers in twos up to Plan de la Croix. This twentieth-century developers, Saint-Nicolas-de- setting with pristine landscapes. This understated establishment mechanical lift is the last of its kind in the Alps. serves up delights big and small. It is dedicated to simple Véroce is far from the bustle of the larger resorts, pleasures and the present moment, with touches of luxury and like a little slice of paradise. Sheltered beneath the It is for pedestrians only and allows walkers to the Alpine art of living throughout. plateau of Mont Joly, it faces Mont Blanc, as well reach the peaks and enjoy the paths with their In this intimate refuge with only 17 rooms, the as Mont Vorassay, Aiguille de Bionnassay, Dômes panoramic views and flowers, which are also used commands a sense of calm, inviting visitors to take a moment as de Miage, and Aiguilles de Trélatête, offering one by mountain bikers and herds of Abondance cows. they admire the exceptional view, including the splendid peaks of the most spectacular panoramas in the Alps. Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce was once a waypoint of Mont Blanc, Mont Vorassay, Aiguille de Bionnassay, Dômes for pedlars and boasts one of the most beautiful de Miage, Aiguilles de Trélatête and Mont Joly. These majestic churches of the Mont-Blanc region. It is a jewel neighbours are reflected in the stone features of the hotel’s of Baroque architecture, listed as a historic interior. monument, and its former eighteenth-century presbytery is now home to a museum of sacred art. Like geological paintings, masterpieces crafted by nature, natural This precious, protected stones decorate the rooms, the Spa, the tea room, bakery, and wine bar, and the gastronomic restaurant La Table d’Armante. and peaceful destination is These rare gems shape the spirit of this fine establishment. th an invitation to relax and Opens on the 25 of June. contemplate the preserved mountain landscapes.

Crédit photo : David Machet L’armancette

A SECLUDED DESTINATION A HEART OF PRECIOUS STONES

The boutique-hotel L’Armancette, named after the neighbouring glacier, The special atmosphere of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce inspired the idea for will have 17 rooms, for 2 to 6 people, providing a total capacity of 49 a five-star chalet-hotel with a telluric soul, designed like a comfortable guests. This intimate establishment, which blends with its surroundings, family home. Nestled in the heart of the village, it was built by architect has been designed as both a destination in itself and a meeting place for Gilles Grandjacques. Born and bred in the local area (his parents were visitors and inhabitants of the region. Located on the site of the former the former owners of the site), he worked with the traditional materials of bakery, L’Armancette is keeping the tradition alive by creating a bakery Haute-Savoie (such as granite from Mont Blanc, tavaillon tiles and lauze open for all, where bread and pastries will be made daily by Pierre. flagstones) to blend the building seamlessly with the local architectural style. Its gastronomic restaurant, La Table d’Armante, whose menu was created This bold and plush interior by former three-star chef Antoine Westermann, will also welcome non- This minimalist, local approach gives way to an exquisitely designed hotel guests, as will the spa on the first floor. The lounge-library, on the interior featuring stone elements, created by Géraldine Marin celebrates the idea of luxury with other hand, will be reserved exclusively for hotel guests. The building is Pretot (Megève Design). She uses old brushed wood and rare also home to a tea room and wine bar. natural stones with refinement, including Calacatta marble, Brazilian a strong personality. granite and Italian Luserna stone. «Precious» stones, which are the hotel’s A unique feature, the basement car park (each room has an allocated signature, invite the cliff and its rock into the interior spaces, in the form parking space) has been entirely decorated by the artists Irsut and Zoer of exceptional «gems» unearthed in the four corners of the world. based on the theme of transport. It is a tip of the hat to the 2KM3 street art exhibition-trails organised by Saint-Gervais in 2017 and 2018, which The subtle granite ambiance is given a touch of warmth with old can still be seen at various locations around the town. Equipped with wood, and refinement with superb fabrics and textiles. electric charging sockets for bicycles and cars, including a Tesla socket, the car park will also display a previously unreleased work made with a Woven, blended and textured, they feature wool and flannel, as well as car cut in half. Adjacent to the car park, two seminar rooms (with capacity coloured leathers, velvets and even silks. You will also find gold threads for up to 50 people) will be opened in Chalet d’Armand in July, as well as and touches of bronze here and there, as well as a selection of materials a Kid’s Club, open on weekends between seasons, and all week during and furniture sourced from major Italian producers (such as Rubelli, school holidays. Donga, Studio Italia, Flexform and Giorgetti), blown-glass floor lamps and suspension lamps (Mooi)… BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED BATHROOMS The rooms Created with attention to the smallest details, the bathrooms, each different from one another, have been transformed into exhibition rooms for geological works of art, including granite with silvery reflections, stone with beautiful strata, golden-veined Calacatta marble, green quartzite from Brazil, «open book» stones with hypnotic patterns, red Griotte marble, brown Travertine stone, green marble from India and blue granite from South America. A COLLECTION OF UNIQUE ROOMS

Each unique, the 17 rooms at the five-star hotel L’Armancette feature solid wood floors and trompe l’oeil marble-patterned carpets in the corridors. The walls, made of light oak wood, grey wood or old wood, feature leather inlays with colours reflecting the luxurious noble materials and precious textiles (including wool, flannel and silk), mainly sourced from Missoni. The curtains were made locally using artisanal methods in the town of Sallanches (Emotion d’Intérieur), while the furniture is sourced from big names in Italian design (such as Rubelli, Donga, Studio Italia, Flexform and Giorgetti). The rooms are also decorated with Rare stones carefully prints of photographs taken by regional artists. arranged to form a superb Of these 17 rooms, more than half are suitable for families (3 to 6 people), while the 9 others (including one room suitable for guests with reduced collection of mineral mobility) have double or twin beds. Two loft rooms also feature a closed- hearth fireplace. Spread out over three floors, some of the rooms look out artworks. over the church tower of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce and the Aiguilles de Warens, while others offer a view of the cliff and its vegetation, which changes with the seasons, and Mont Joly.

Most rooms feature an outdoor balcony and all offer a mini-bar, coffee/ From €390 for a standard room tea machine, safe, hair-dryer, a line of complimentary Kos Paris products 25 to 57 m² for the family room and a connected 4K television. www.armancette.com

Crédits photos : Sémaphore - Pascal Leroy The spa

WELL-BEING WITH A VIEW

Nestled on the first floor of the hotel, the spa opens out onto a magnificent 11-by-6-metre semi-indoor heated pool with a movable floor. Surrounded by Luserna stone and covered by a starlight ceiling in the indoor section, it stretches outdoors onto a terrace-solarium with a panoramic view of Mont Vorassay, the Aiguille de Bionnassay, Armancette glacier and the Dômes de Miage.

This postcard landscape can be enjoyed from one of the two outdoor Jacuzzis, the other hidden from view beneath the cliff. Indoors, there is a sauna, hammam and indoor jacuzzi, as well as three booths dedicated to sculpting massages and Kos Paris signature treatments, hairdressing and beauty care. The high-end Kos Paris brand was chosen for a good reason: in addition to its carefully selected ingredients and 98% natural formulas, the range offers unique fragrances. Natural, organic ingredients from around the world have been selected for their exceptional properties (such as Barbary fig seed oil, Acai berries and Babassu butter).

There is also a sports room, accessible round the clock, with walls created using stone from the seabed, on which marks left by old shellfish are still visible. Fitted with exercise bikes, treadmills, a rowing machine, a weight-training and kinesis bench, and mat, there will also be a fitness coach present on a daily basis. La Table Tea room d’Armante

LIVING, INSPIRING SPACES

Adjacent to the restaurant and opening out onto the vast sunny terrace, the tea room offers a number of spaces, including the bakery and wine bar. GASTRONOMIC CUISINE FROM THE TERROIR Open from 7 am to 9 pm, it will offer breakfast (also available for non-hotel guests), light meals and snacks, afternoon tea, pastries, aperitifs, wine tasting, a selection of mountain The 55-seater restaurant La Table d’Armante is open for lunch and dinner. plant infusions and more. The decor features wood and stone, with tones of ivory and aged gold, These cosy, contemporary spaces are inspired by a modern mountain setting, more and solid wood organic tables, by French designer Christophe Delcourt, urban than traditional, delving into a palette of autumnal tones and Tom Dixon furniture some custom-made, taking pride of place. collections. Opening out onto the dining room, the porcelain stoneware and stainless steel kitchen offers three seats at the counter to watch the team in action. The menu, signed by Antoine Westermann, a former three-star chef from the Buerehiesel, in Alsace, and creator of the Parisian concept Coq Rico, revisits the best of produce from the Alps and Rhône-Alpes, with gastronomic, locavore dishes and generous elegance. This «refined terroir» cuisine is interpreted by chef Julien Darcy and pastry chef Coming soon… Aymeric Payan, who is tasked with the creation and production of cakes and pastries served throughout the day in the tea room. A little bit further up the road, a few metres away, the former hotel Le Mont Joly, currently undergoing renovation (opening planned in January 2020), will offer a penthouse suite for Particular attention has also been paid to the wine menu. In the summer, family stays, with capacity for up to 8 people. In this former nineteenth-century farm, an the restaurant serves food on the terrace bathed in sunlight, offering a iconic village landmark, there will be a restaurant-rotisserie, Le Truc (named after Mont Truc, stunning view over the Dômes de Miage. which it faces), and a shop selling and renting ski, and hiking equipment, run by Jérôme Penz, a local man and former skier in the French national team. In December 2019, three prestigious chalets (Aster, Carline and Silène), offering direct access Lunch set menu to the slopes for skiers, with capacity for 8 to 14 people, will complete the accommodation Dish of the day at €25 offering of L’Armancette and Mont Joly. 2 courses at €35 and 3 courses at €45 Practical information

**OPENING ON 25 JUNE 2019**

Getting to Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce

Plane 1 hr 20 min by car or shuttle (95 km) from Geneva International Airport. 2 hr 10 min by car or shuttle (211 km) from Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport. 30 min from Megève Altiport

Train Saint-Gervais-les-Bains Le Fayet railway station (9 km), then 20 min by car or taxi

Car A40 motorway direct to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains 30 min from 1 hr from Geneva