Once Upon a Time in Megève
From a small farming village where inhabitants enjoyed fertile and rich land, Megève transformed over time into a prestigious and sought-after ski resort.
It was with the arrival of the first tourists in the 19th century, seeking the pure mountain air, that the small village of Megève – formerly Mageva – began its transformation.
It all really began in the aftermath of the First World War when Baroness Noémie de Rothschild, passionate about the mountains, decided to settle in Megève. Seduced by the exceptional view, she established herself on the heights of Megève, in the Mont d'Arbois estate, to build a ski resort that would allow the aristocracy to enjoy the mountains without having to rub shoulders with the hereditary enemy, the Germans.
In 1921, the Palace des Neiges made its appearance. A flamboyant construction, planted on hundreds of hectares and equipped with an ice rink. Accompanied by her husband, Maurice de Rothschild, the Baroness developed a unique French art de vivre that, to this day, remains unchanged. The success was immediate, the hotel became the essential meeting place for high society. Over the years, new hotels were added to the landscape, modelled on traditional chalets. The farming village then transformed into a real ski resort that would become, a few years later, a destination of international renown.