Description
About the house
This traditional alpine farmhouse is surrounded by beautiful mountains and magnificent scenery. It has been extended and modernised to provide basic but comfortable accommodation in a very peaceful setting. The location is rural amongst working farms with views across the valley and mountain walks on the doorstep. The quiet location is ideal for families with children, or for adults/couples seeking peace and tranquility.
There is easy access to the beaches of Lac Leman and the various sporting facilities in Morzine and The Dranse Valley. For winter skiing, there is access to 600 kilometres of pistes in the Portes du Soleil area and some smaller local ski resorts. It takes about 15-20 minutes to drive to the main ski lifts.
The large kitchen has modern fitted cupboards, tiled worktops, gas hob with cooker hood, electric built in fan oven/grill, microwave, toaster, kettle, coffee maker, dishwasher and large fridge with freezer compartment. There is a separate area containing washing machine and ironing facilities. There is a fully equipped bathroom upstairs with tiled floor, bath, basin and wc, with a second wc downstairs and a separate adjacent shower room with large walk-in shower and wash basin.
Ground Floor: 1 twin bedroom, I double bedroom (through twin), Family bedroom with a double and 2 single beds, large kitchen, shower room, separate WC, Utility area, Garden.
First floor: Very large Living Room with double bed on one side, Bathroom with bath and WC, Traditional narrow alpine balcony with roof over.
Outside: Flat grassy area approximately 25m x 10m, cellar underneath Family bedroom, Patio table, chairs and parasol for summer use, Portable BBQ kept in cellar. Please Note: Stairs to cellars in front of the house could be a hazard for very young children.
Interaction with guests
We can be contacted as necessary to answer any questions you may have before booking. Detailed directions will be provided to enable you to find the property and the door keys in good time before your arrival. This will include our personal contact details and those of our caretaker in case of problems. Some tourist information on local places to visit is kept in one of the drawers in the dresser in the kitchen..
As we are not resident locally, guests will need to take their own sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases and towels.
Getting there
Fly to Geneva (e.g. with British Airways, Easyjet etc.), then I hour by car -- good car hire facilities in Geneva airport, cheaper on french side of airport. Try Airline Network, Car Hire 3000 or maybe Expedia. Alternatively, take the ferry, seacat or eurotunnel to Calais, then 8 or 9 hours by car via A26 to Dijon and across the Jura mountains to Geneva, then take N5 to Thonon Les Bains and D902 towards Morzine -- La Baume is approximately two thirds of the way from Thonon to Morzine.
About the area
The Portes du Soleil (doors of the sun) is an area of mountains in France and Switzerland just south of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). The house is within this region and is located in a small hamlet just above the village of La Baume. It is situated overlooking the valley of the river Dranse which runs from the Haute Savoie mountains into Lac Leman.
The house faces south-east into the valley and gets the morning sun. Its altitude is approx. 850 metres above sea level and local mountains are typically 1800 to 2000 metres high. There are interesting places to vist nearby, including the Gorge du Pont de Diable at Le Jotty, a medieval abbey at St Jean D'Aulps, and the incredible mountain setting of Lac du Montriond. There are many local walks or alternatively you can just relax and enjoy the clear mountain air in a very peaceful setting.
There are many beaches around the shores of Lac Leman and many possibilities for sportspeople including white water rafing on the river Dranse, sailing and canoeing on Lac Leman, and climbing for those with a head for heights. There is a variety of sporting activities available in nearby Morzine or you can enjoy leisurely boat trips across Lac Leman for stunning views of the mountains and Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc itself is a little over an hours drive away and, aside from its altitude, boasts the longest and steepest single span cable car in the world.
In winter there is access to the entire 600km of the Portes du Soleil ski area with access via Morzine (15/20mins) , Les Gets (20mins) or Ardent/Montriond (25 mins). There is a smaller ski resort at St. Jean D'Aulps, just along the valley about10/15 minutes drive away. which is linked to La Cheverie in the adjoining valley. The circuit around the 2 resorts is called Le circuit de Roc D'Enfer.
Getting around
You really do need a car as the location is very rural, though not really isolated. There are no shops in the village so you to drive for basic shopping, though it is possible to walk/run the 3km across the valley to Le Biot (it is double the distance by road). A car is essential to make the most of your visit to this outstandingly beautiful area.
French Alps
The French Alps extend from Lake Geneva in the north, to the mediterranean in the south and are bounded by the Rhone Valley to the west and the Swiss/Italian borders to the east. The highest peak, Mont Blanc, rises some 4807m, but the altitude gradually decreases towards the south and the ranges are easily accessible through a series of deep and wide valleys. The region is famed for magnificent views which appear to change with every bend of the steep winding roads. It is an area full of contrasts, from the colourful shores of Lake Geneva through the gentle mountains surrounding it, to high alpine pastures, rocky outcrops, and to the glaciers of Mont Blanc and the Tarantaise. The region and local area is one of outstanding natural beauty.
House Rules:
Pets not allowed, No smoking, Do not touch the oil stove.
We feel that the house is best suited to families with children. There are no other specific house rules but we do ask that all guests take care of the property, fixtures, fittings and furnishings. Please report any damage, breakages, breakdowns etc. so that they can be repaired/replaced in a timely fashion for subsequent guests. If we know about problems/issues, we can usually deal with them.