It is sometimes called the "Saint-Tropez of winter sports", a French resort nestled in the heart of the Alps, on the heights of the Tarentaise Valley and whose charms are discovered at the bend of a beautiful winding road. A ski resort created from scratch in 1946 on a site that operated only in summer, and by a handful of shepherds. Now, a must-see place, acclaimed by a rich foreign clientele, Courchevel offered us a one-day pass in the heart of its Savoyard village. We first drop off our suitcases in one of the most emblematic hotels of the resort, Le Lana, before leaving to browse the historic shop in the village, Bernard Orcel. After a good day of skiing, we take off our skis and go window shopping. A short stop in front of the Galerie Saint-Martin, where Aaron, Jenkell, Klasen and Rubinstein have caught our attention, before going up the street in the direction of Espace Diamant, opposite the tourist office. It is here that we discover the very first jeweller to have based themselves in the station in 1989, the House of Julian. But for now, it's back to our hotel, at the foot of the slopes. Gone are the days when the establishment, created in 1958, counted only about twenty rooms. Today, this 5 * hotel has no less than 85 rooms, suites and luxury apartments ranging from 30 to 220 m2. In more than 60 years of existence, this traditional Savoyard family cottage has slowly turned into a cozy and idyllic location, offering high-end services, tailor-made for an unforgettable stay. It is really an historic hotel (..) it is a family hotel, (...) the 2nd generation (..) took over the reigns. It's a hotel of customs, of the French way of being. We wanted a rather cozy decoration, family oriented, slightly timeless, not modern (...) we had to put in a lot of wood to (..) keep the mountain feel. A haven of peace that every year attracts an increasingly international clientele, so that between 15 and 20 different nationalities are represented during the holidays They are Russian, Turkish, Brazilian, French or American, and all have fallen for the charms of this luxury hotel with multiple faces, because while Le Lana offers direct access to the slopes via its ski room on one side, it also offers a second entrance on the village side for direct access to the shops. You have to pass through the garage, where 2 Rolls-Royce's patiently wait. On request, if customers wish to be transported for the trip to or from Geneva, which is our closest airport, 2 short hours away, the Rolls Royce's are available to customers, it's a little added extra we offer. The Rolls will not be of much use for us today since behind this garage door, we come face to face with the first shops. Vuitton and Philippe Plein have caught our eye and it is the doors of this shop with a green storefront that we are about to push open. Bernard Orcel is simply the essential multibrand shop of this resort. A real Ali Baba's cave for lovers of ski wear and luxury ready-to-wear. Today, it has to be said that Bernard Orcel is the emblematic shop of Courchevel It's a must see for all Courchevel clients because it contains all the products related to winter sports, the mountains, and the apres-ski. Customers come first and foremost to find skiwear so there are all the brands like Fendi Ski, Bogner, Toni Sailer, and new brands like Aztech Mountain or Cordova, which are doing great at Bernard Orcel. A product (...) that is one of the best sellers is going to be a product like this one from Toni Sailer, it's a limited edition jacket with a leather yoke, a fur collar, it's a jacket that is very "fitted", comfortable and technical, so it's really ideal for our customers to use it for skiing. While upstairs, the warm carpet continues to be treaded by an increasingly loyal clientele, probably charmed by the mountain decor and its old Oregonian wood, the basement is also a very popular destination and also has many fans. Here, there are no helmets or ski suits, it's a completely different world. We do not just do skiing at Bernard Orcel, we also do ready to wear with brands like Burberry, Missoni, Brunello Cucinelli (..). We find very cuddly cashmere ensembles, evening wear, and shoes from sneakers to trekking boots, so, all collections. It's a great way to update your wardrobe, in a luxurious way.... During our stay, the sun and fresh powdered snow covered the slopes of the 3 Valleys, the largest ski area in the world with 600 km of slopes. Courchevel has of course its place apart, becoming in a few years a reference in the world of ski resorts. And while in 1958, the station had a single cable car, three funiculars, six ski lifts and 51 shops for a capacity of 2843 hotel beds, Courchevel has now changed with no less than 60 ski lifts, 93 ski slopes, 49 hotels, and a tourist capacity of about 40,000 beds. In Courchevel, many people dreamed in secret of this golden destiny, and the secret is to always believe and to never stop dreaming. A motto shared, it seems, by the Galerie Saint-Martin that immerses us in a childish universe filled with colours, dreams and sweets, like these from Laurence Jenkell. A candy "wrapping" made from Plexiglas. Never the same twist, never the same draping, so a unique piece by definition. Unique pieces, which is what is mainly on offer from this Art Gallery, which, after Saint-Tropez and Megève, chose to install itself in 2018 in the heart of the most exclusive resort in the French Alps. Galerie Saint-Martin has been in existence for more than 40 years, it's a family business (..) that I try to develop with artists of international dimension, with Neo Pop Art artists, with Street Art, with different artists. We have experienced artists and emerging artists (...) young talents, yes, French, American, Canadian (...) We have artists like Rubenstein that you have behind me (...) who really revolutionized the kinetic art of Vasarely, by merging 3 paintings into 1, it is exceptional, he is a man who is 59 years old, and who today is sold worldwide. Others that are quite well rated include the French artist Franck Tordjmann, a sculptor, visual artist and photographer who enjoys playing with transparency and lightness around the theme of music. Another highlight of the gallery, the New Yorker Charles Fazzino. Madonna, Michelle and Barack Obama apparently already fell in love with this 3D pop art style artist. The Belgian Alfredo Longo raises awareness about recycling, with his beautiful sculptures made from used soda cans. Not to mention the favourite of Stéphen Lafeuille, David Cintract, and his miss Google, a symbol of our hyper consumerist society. David Cintract is an artist I love because he brings something new after this Neo Pop Art, and all these artists, he created a movement elsewhere, called Free Pop He really has an identity because he is an artist who touches everything, (..) painting, photo, collage, each time we can't take our eyes off his work and what is very original also is that it is never " too much "(...) and here you have in addition, mountain-related sculptures too, right here. We try to work in the old fashioned way, to go to the workshops, choose our pieces, buy them, to be able to present them to our customers. Someone who comes back in two months, he will see new things, because the gallery changes, evolves, moves, it is what creates the effervescence of the gallery, it is also about finding novelties, and I like that and I give that a lot of importance. Soon, a new artist should arrive at the Galerie Saint-Martin, the Canadian Boutet. His digital sculptures on canvas seem to be a hit on the American market. To be continued….. Beyond its image of a posh resort, Courchevel, with its narrow streets, its postcard scenery, is primarily an ecotourism destination. It is one of 480 so-labeled destinations. In June 2017, the Federation of Green Resorts and Snow Villages awarded Courchevel the "Green Station" label, a label that recognizes natural, authentic, environmentally friendly destinations that help preserve the natural heritage and culture of territories but also the well-being of its inhabitants. Residents who one evening in December 1989 saw a jeweller set up shop, the very first at the resort. At Julian's, they've been jewellers for 6 generations. It all started in Avignon in 1820, with the creation of a first shop, before the family business continued its development in Cannes, Saint-Tropez, then Courchevel in the late 80s. The Diamond space has almost been built around them. Over the years the brand has become a reference in high jewellery and fine watchmaking. All the most beautiful brands are represented here, and the clientele, more and more demanding as it is, finds what it wants without any difficulty. The customers who are here are really I think the most upscale clientele that can exist, and what they are looking for is precisely what they cannot find elsewhere. Around the inevitable Rolex stand, there are timepieces by Manufacture Royale and Custos, Which offer here a model called Gusatve Eiffel Jetliner, or, as a rare model, this Chronograph Limited Edition of 8 pieces. Collector friends, here you have number 1! On the jewellery side, 15 years ago, Jean-Louis Julian took a risk on a young and promising French designer, Valérie Messika. This magnificent corner which is now entirely dedicated to her, proves how much flair he had. And this inspiration is very useful, especially when it comes to meeting the sometimes extravagant demands of customers. We have been creative jewellers since 1862, so our specialty is really to create according to the needs and desires of our customers. We have customers (...) a lot of Russian customers (...) who will want us to create a pendant with a surf, or a pair of skis, (...) we made creations with bottles of champagne in diamonds (...) We have also created (...) the Courchevel logo which is a pretty snowflake, we made it as a pendant, or an ice skate for a young Russian who was a skater, yes, that's really our specialty, to make original things. It is thus with stars in our eyes that we return to the hotel. The Clarins Spa at the Lana is undoubtedly an ideal place for a moment of relaxation after an intense day. Treatment cabins, swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi are all on the program. But what better than to combine the pleasures of skiing and relaxation, with the pleasures of food. We find Chef Philippe Guerin in the kitchen, who works every day to offer his guests a whole range of flavours. Savoyard-inspired creations in his restaurant called Saint-Nicolas. Or more gastronomic dishes at La Table du Lana. In the evening, with its panoramic view over the mountains, the piano bar remains the ideal place to continue the pleasures of the day over a drink, with a crackling fire in the background. This is the end of our stay in Courchevel, which, after having been the scene of sporting events at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, will host together with Méribel, the 2023 World Alpine Ski Championships. Please make a note in your diaries!
