Le Hibou

A Wise Choice !

Chamonix, you can almost hear the crunch of nailed boots worn by those early mountaineers along streets today lined exuberant après ski bars. This characterful French town has a special, enduring magic. It also has Chalet le Hibou, a rather individual and warmly welcoming chalet.

Come on a journey through the enchanting space of Chalet Le Hibou. From the outside, a picture-perfect chocolate box, snuggled into the mountainside, with spell-binding views towards Mont Blanc. Inside, an imaginative mélange that comes together to create a colourful world that is both homely and elegant.

One end of the open-plan living space is an embrace of contemporary luxury where the velvety stroke of plush sofas and the hint of exoticism of an eastern carpet are warmed by artwork and lighting that glow like the sun. This bright room morphs gracefully into a dining area where rustic pine table and chairs and painted kitchen units whisk you to a designer farmhouse kitchen. Many windows frame a mountain-scape that takes in the sites of the adventures, the conquests, the disappointments and the triumphs of those alpinists who still haunt Chamonix’s darker It must be one of the most magnificent views that even the most seasoned amants de la montagne can witness. A wide wooden balcony invites a quiet moment just to breathe. The pure air smells of rocks and ice.

And Chalet le Hibou pulls it all off. With a knowing smile and a shrug.

This eclectic style continues over the three floors. There is a lot of painted wood, plush fabrics and rich colours, and yet all fused with a sense of light and space. Four double bedrooms each have an ensuite and a sense of its own individuality. Two are on the ground floor with the living area and two on the floor below. A bunkroom with that would sleep up to four in bunkbeds is also on this floor with its own ensuite. Cross the hallway, past the sauna and the door opens on another merveille that marks the delightful idiosyncrasy of le Hibou. Is it a spa or is it a rather glamourous beach hut? It is both and everything in between. High ceilings richly beamed and painted eggshell greeny-blue reflecting the silky water of the jet stream hydro-pool. Sofas and plants and an enticing stove. The view of the mountain.

Le Hibou is peacefully set in a privileged position ten minutes’ walk to the centre of town or the Brévent or Flégère ski lifts. Fully looked after by the Chalet Manager, personal chef, host and housekeeper, guests at Le Hibou have time fully to enjoy this historic, exciting town and its extraordinary surroundings. This captivating chalet draws you in like to a very special retreat, a shimmering refuge after those alpine adventures.