Top 5 hotels to sleep atop a mountain

Absolute silence, broken only by the chirping of chickadees, an immense blanket of snow with only the footprints of hares, voles or deer, and, of course, the immense panorama of snow-covered peaks and forests.This Eden is the promise of these five hotels perched high in the French mountains, from Val Thorens to Les Menuires and Alpes d'Huez. Book as soon as possible. ..

Altapura Hotel

This is one of the star addresses in Val Thorens, Europe's highest and most prestigious resort. A palace of glass and steel, set at an altitude of 2,300 m opposite the cime Caron (the summit of Val Thorens), it shakes up the prevailing conformism by blending the comfort of a high-tech palace with the aesthetics of the 1930s. The 88 rooms and suites are decorated with functional, designer blond-wood furniture, tweed fabrics and huge picture windows. Special mention must also go to the Scandinavian forest-style spa, with its indoor and outdoor pools where you can swim facing the mountains, before taking a dip in the ice fountain.

• Double room from 359 euros, breakfast included
• Rue du Bouchet 73440 Val Thorens. Tel: 04 80 36 80 36
• Further information on Hôtel Altapura

Le Refuge de Solaise

Perched at the top of the resort's slopes at an altitude of 2551 m, this hotel is the perfect invitation to recharge your batteries, far from the crowds, in the heart of a luminous, secret mountain. Accessible only by gondola, this nugget features 16 paneled rooms decorated with mountain-style check fabrics, a cozy dormitory for a stay with friends, and 4 private apartments for families. There's also an Exertier spa, a wellness area, a children's playroom and two restaurants, including the Gigi, led by the Paris Society group, with a sumptuous view over the valley. It's a place with a unique atmosphere at dusk, when the ballet of chairlifts comes to an end and you find yourself alone in this landscape of snow and ice, gazing up at the starry sky.

• Double room from 770 euros, breakfast included.
• Sommet de Solaise 73150 Val d'Isère. Tel: 04 58 83 00 90.
• Further information on Le Refuge de Solaise

Chalet Hôtel Kaya

Situated at the summit of Les Menuires at an altitude of 2000m, this imposing wooden chalet offers guests an exceptional view and, above all, the rare feeling of being alone in the world. The hotel boasts 50 rooms (including 40 suites), true modern cocoons with their Andean-inspired combinations of wood, wool and leather. The hotel also offers guests the charm of its Refuge lounge, where they can enjoy a drink in front of the fireplace, the delights of the Cinq Mondes spa and, for children, a kids' camp with plenty of activities, including a pyjama party! Restaurants include Kairn, with its light bistro fare, Cheese & the Forest, with its cheese cellar, and a food truck, ideal for a snack.

• Double room from 210 euros, breakfast included.
• Village de Reberty 73440 Les Belleville. Tel: 04 79 41 42 00
• Further information on Chalet Hôtel Kaya

Hôtel Au Chamois d' Or

Eschewing the often aseptic luxury of 5-star hotels, this handsome chalet, set at an altitude of 1860m facing the slopes, is first and foremost a family home - a philosophy that no doubt owes much to its recent history. Thibaut Lassarat and his brother Didier used to spend their childhood winter vacations at Le Chamois d'Or, before learning in 2007 that it was up for sale. They embarked on the adventure, with success, as the hotel was soon awarded a fifth star. Following a remarkable restoration, the hotel now offers 42 rooms and 5 suites in delicate woodwork and soft colors, with the lofty silhouette of the snow-capped mountains on the horizon. The Pic Blanc slopes are directly accessible from the hotel, and you can explore the vast ski area before enjoying the delights of the Nuxe spa with its hammam, sauna and beautiful swimming pool. An ideal break before returning to the Chamois d'Or gourmet restaurant.. .

• Double room from 196 euros, breakfast included.
• Rond-Point des Pistes 38750 Alpe d' Huez
• More information on Hôtel Au Chamois d'Or

Hôtel Alta Peyra

Conceived as a hamlet divided into 5 buildings linked by internal walkways, this handsome hotel takes all the codes of traditional architecture, inspired by the famous fustes (houses made of stacked logs). Warm and cosy, it houses some sixty rooms and suites that combine local materials (larch trunks from the Hautes-Alpes, 17th-century cupboard doors, rocks found in the river), streamlined furnishings and designer lighting. The 3 restaurants offer chic gastronomy, Provencal bistronomy and snacking for a quick lunch on the terrace. The spa offers a comprehensive range of treatments and state-of-the-art facilities: balneotherapy, outdoor and indoor pools, sauna, hammam and gym. An ideal retreat after exploring the 30 slopes of the ski area or the delightful lanes of the village of Saint-Véran, perched at an altitude of 2042 m, one of the highest in Europe.

• Double room from 159 euros, breakfast included.
• Quartier La Ville, 05350 Saint Véran. Tel: 04 92 22 24 06
• Further information on Hôtel Alta Peyra

And also. .. Sleep in a refuge in Méribel

Opposite Méribel, accessible on snowshoes, off-piste or with the Pinzelec (the hotel's tracked vehicle - Les Airelles), La Traye is the first top-of-the-range refuge in the French Alps. Set in a small hamlet at an altitude of 1650m, it offers total immersion in nature. The various accommodations include 6 rooms and suites combining the warmth of wood and soft fabrics, a lounge area and terraces with 180° panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. Nestled in the Grand Refuge, the communal areas include a traditional restaurant, a large lounge warmed by a fireplace, a wellness area and even a cinema. It's the perfect place to recharge your batteries after a day on the slopes, or to take advantage of the activities organized from the refuge: snowshoeing, tobogganing, ski touring... It'salso worth noting that for several years now, the site has been committed to an eco-responsible approach, from water management to renewable materials.

• Double room from 529 euros, breakfast included.
• Chemin Sainte-Appolonnie 73550 Méribel les Allues. Tel: 04 58 24 04 04
• More information on Refuge de la Traye