Auberge du Soleil - Summer
Haute Savoie
Nearest Airport: Geneva |
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Ideal for extended families or families holidaying together. Sleeps up to 14 plus 2 babies in cots At a glance
Traditional mountain chalet halfway up the mountain
Glorious open air pool
Splendid isolation
Wifi and broadband available
English speaking babysitting available
Stunning viewsWhat Tracy thinks:
The Auberge du Soleil is the perfect back to nature getaway, halfway up the mountain with only the cows, to break the silence. Your children can play outside as nature intended, without having to worry about cars and other modern dangers. They can watch the cows being milked, cheeses being made or just simply play in the unpolluted mountain air, while you watch from your sun lounger at the side of the open air pool. Inside
This rustic mountain farm, built many years ago, giving images of Heidi and the Sound of Music, is a place that shuns the modern world. Sensitively renovated over the years by the family that still use it as a second home, the farm is still completely traditional but with the added security that is has been fully inspected by the Mairie and the pompiers to ensure that it is up to 21st century safety standards. The Auberge is a paradise for lovers of nature and the open air, the ultimate getaway for all the family from the stress and strains of the modern pace of life. Imagine, total silence at night, no bars, no cars, just the mountain and yourselves. In common with most buildings in this region the ground floor gives access to 4 of the bedrooms which are all en suite and decorated individually to match each bedroom.
The blue bedroom has twin beds (that can be pushed together to make a double) and plenty of space for an extra bed or cot. This room also has an antique crib in situ for very small babies and the bathroom features a corner bath and a separate shower. Along with spacious built in wardrobes this bedroom also has a private balcony, conforming to French safety standards. There is also a twin blue bedroom which features rustic mountain beds, the twin also has a private balcony. On the same floor, there are 2 more rooms with double beds one with an en suite bathroom and one with adjacent bathroom. On the lower ground floor, two bedrooms share a bathroom, the first bedroom has twin beds that can be pushed together and the other is a bunk room with a sturdy wooden bunk set. Finally on this floor, there is a cosy, self contained studio, with the most amazing built in mountain box bed. Along with the en suite bathroom, there is a kitchenette and patio doors opening directly on to the patio. All the bedrooms are provided with feather duvets to snuggle under and the bathrooms are completed with towels and complementary toiletries. Returning to the main entrance and the log burner, you go up the wooden open tread stairs to the most amazing living dining area, open to the rafters of the building. This fantastic family living space is dominated by a beautiful central fireplace and a typical Savoyard chimney that would have been used in the past to smoke the farmer’s hams. This multi function room easily loses the 12 guests it can accommodate in winter, due to the ingenious layout whereby the fireplace effectively divides the room into 4 separate areas but still leaves the amazing feeling of space. In one side of the room, there is cosy seating, an abundance of scatter rugs and cushions and a TV, DVD and video player, the next part of the room has a table for writing postcards and playing games from the large library of board games and paperbacks. The third part of the room has a couple of sofas around an old sledge masquerading as a modern coffee table, simply for relaxing and taking in the spectacular views surrounding the farm. The final part of the room is the dining area with a sturdy mountain table for 12, which fills the gap between the living area and the kitchen that is open to the living area but set slightly to one side. Parent Points:
Obviously the open fire, however it is about 15” of the ground, with a large stone surround which provides a natural barrier. There is also an all encompassing fireguard should you wish to use it. The top of the stairs has a superb custom made wooden stair gate that blends in with the surroundings Outside
The Auberge opens directly onto the mountain slopes, so is not enclosed at all as there is nothing to cordon off except wide open spaces. All you can see are endless meadows, ski lifts and a few other mountain farms. It really is a childhood dream to have such freedom and no traffic in sight - except a few mountain animals! The natural stone open air pool is situated just below the Auberge, with the most amazing views over the countryside as you lounge at the side of it with a good book. Of course, it's not totally silent at the top of the mountain, the local farmers may be bringing in their hay or making cheeses, they might be making the local honey or smoking a few hams for the winter. Whatever they are up to, it'll be a world away from your neighbours goings on at home. Parent Point:
There is a steep drop just at the edge of the farm terrace, this will be fenced off for the summer. There are also a few neighbouring farms and buildings which may not be locked so parents, as usual, should be aware of their children's whereabouts at all times. Please note that due to the outstanding open location of this property, the swimming pool is alarmed but not enclosed. Baby and Toddler Friendly: - Stairgates
- Cots and cot linen
- Microwave
- High chair
- Hand blender
- Plastic plates, cups and cutlery
And Beyond...
Situated in the heart of the Aravis mountains, the Auberge is at the end of the mountain road in Chinaillion, so there are endless walks from the door and in the main summer season the lifts are easily accessed so you can ride up and just walk down. The nearest village is Le Grand Bornand, a typical Savoyard village where the main industry is cheese making, it is renowned in France for it's Reblochon, an Appelation Contrôlée cheese which is the principal ingredient for Tartiflette. This and many other cheeses and local dried meats and wines can all be sampled at the weekly market in Le Grand Bornand. For those who want to be more active there is parapenting, mountain biking, swimming, horse riding and golf in the vicinity. If you fancy a day out, the famous resort of Chamonix is about an hour and a half's drive away or you could visit Lake Annecy the second largest lake in Europe, also the cleanest lake due to strict environmental regulations introduced in the 1960's. For those who prefer shopping, Geneve has some fantastic bargains and not being part of the EU, it's also duty free. Like our other mountain resorts, Le Grand Bornand is recommended by Famille Plus which means that they give an especially warm welcome to families, especially those with young children. Before booking, please read about Realistic Expectations. You should also read our Terms and Conditions.
| Arrive |
Depart |
Time |
Carrier |
| Geneva |
Stansted, Luton, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Mancheste |
1 hour |
Easyjet |
| Lyon |
Edinburgh, Gatwick, Stansted |
2 hours |
Easyjet |
| Chambery |
Belfast, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle |
1 hour 15 mins |
Jet 2 |
| Geneva |
Gatwick, City, Heathrow |
1 hour |
British Airways |
| Geneva |
East Midlands |
1 hour |
BMI Baby |
Gallery 
The auberge in its incredible setting.
The stunning pool.
The fabulous living and dining area.
Traditonal Savoyard dining.
The picture postcard red bedroom.
The red bedroom.
The blue double bedroom.
Antique crib in the blue bedroom.
The pretty blue twin bedroom.
The blue bathroom.
The pretty yellow bedroom with its stunning views.
The yellow bedroom.
The yellow bathroom.
The perfect spot for a shady lunch or some quiet time for the little ones.
The lovely swimming pool and its open surroundings.
The perfect spot to unwind, if you manage to grab a peaceful moment to yourself.
Picture postcard views.
Stunning fields of wild flowers.
The convent - walkable over the mountain.
One of the neighbours.
The local 'traffic'.
Another neighbour.
Parapenting.
Ballooning nearby.
The fair in Grand Bornand.
Neighbouring cheesemakers.
The secret waterfall.
Thones.
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