French Chalets

French Ski Chalets can be great in the Summer as well as Winter Seasons. The traditional view of the chalet as a winter getaway for the skier is changing and on a recent trip to the Val D’Isere region of France, my mind was opened to the range of outdoor activities on offer in this diverse landscape.

Many chalets in the European Alps were originally used as seasonal farms for dairy cattle which would be brought up from the lowland pastures during the summer months. The herders would live in the chalet and make butter and cheese in order to preserve the milk produced. These products would then be taken back to the lower valleys with the cattle before the start of the alpine winter and the chalets would remain locked and unused during the winter months.

Chalets have become focussed on winter holiday makers and although used in the summer by the rest of Europe are not as widely frequented by the British or American visitors.

Whilst on a walking holiday to France recently with a group of Friends I found it eye opening to see the range of accommodation that was on offer for the traveller in France.

The French chalets are often known as ‘Gites’ and traditionally had basic facilities, but most are now generally very well maintained and have excellent facilities such as fully fitted kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, televisions and access to a swimming pool or other facilities.

There are many Ski Chalets for all different needs & budgets. There are luxury catered chalets with hot-tubs and internet access along with beautiful self-catered chalets and apartments. It should be noted that if you plan to go and visit some of the great chalets in the summer, the local tourist information office in the region that you plan to visit is a good place to start as they generally have a list of the accommodation on offer. There are selected accommodation sites that also warrant further investigation. To find gites de france there are a good selection at the Lake and Alpine Homes website and they also do a good range of French chalets