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When I saw the book cover with the photo above titled ”Living In Style Mountain Chalets” in the shop window of a bookstore, I couldn’t help myself to go inside and look at the book, after which I immediately bought it. The book is printed by ‘teNeues Media GmbH’ in 2016 and edited by ‘Gisela Rich’.

When the gorgeous photo above combined with the word ‘Chalet’, the book drew me inside the bookstore automatically. The word ‘Chalet’ awakens cosiness and warmth in my mind. Chalets are like winter tales in which you can enjoy a cosy atmosphere by means of picturesque views from their windows, their stylish decoration inspired by the nature or the warmth of a burning fireplace inside.

As the snow was falling down in Istanbul for a couple of days starting from last Sunday either delicately like cotton buds sprayed from the sky or heavily to create wonderful white views as we had longed for; I took out the Chalet book above from my library for it was just the time to wander through its pages and enjoy photos of warm chalets.

The book displays exclusive mountain chalets and their interiors from around the world which would also give one nice and different home design ideas. These chalets, used as vacation homes or retreats are either private property or available for rent and they have wonderful views of Alpine landscapes. Their current owners are said to be committed to the Alpine architecture characterized by expansive walls of glass that allow these houses to connect to their surroundings which I think is the essence of their magic.

I will share some of these chalets here, which would enable you to immerse in these winter tales for a while. (Photos and info from the book ‘Living In Style Mountain Chalets‘, teNeues, 2016).

Austria

• Bärenhütte (Kitzbühel, Austria)

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Private property. Located in the Kitzbühel Alps, renovated and refurnished by the current owners in 2005. Walls constructed of wide wooden planks. Cosily furnished bedroom and antique fittings in the cosy bathroom.

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• Alpine Mountain Retreat Kitzbühel (Kitzbühel, Austria)

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Private property. Located in the Kitzbühel Alps. Built in 1960s and acquired and converted by the current owners in 2003-04. Cherry furnishings. Pale-colored wood dominates the walls, ceilings, floors, doors and the furniture. Vivid reds and patterned fabrics are used to contrast with the wood. I think the red color within wooden structures looks charming and warm.

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• Chalet Tauern (Kitzbühel, Austria)

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Sold/Private property. From the living room, views of Hahnenkamm Mountain and the Streif, one of the most dangerous ski race course in the world. Every bedroom has its own private bathroom. Features its own spa. (Lanz Immobilien, Susanne.lanz@a1.net, lanz-residences.com)

• Stadl am Tunauberg (South Styria, Austria)

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For rent as a vacation residence. One of the high-class vacation houses of the company PURESLeben (meaning ”pure life”). Original barn character of the building was retained. Living area includes an open, modern kitchen with a fireplace. Large windows open to the view of the vineyards and hills of South Styria. There is a natural pond in the garden. Features a sauna. (PURESLeben, info@puresleben.at, puresleben.at)

France

• Amazon Creek (Chamonix, France)

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For rent as a vacation residence. One of the most luxurious chalets in the French Mont Blanc valley. Five bedrooms. Guest rooms include plasma TVs and iPod docking stations by Bose. Features an outdoor pool, spa, garden and its own home theater. Furnishings reflect the typical Alpine style. (Oxford Private Travel, inspire@oxfordprivatetravel.com, oxfordprivatetravel.com)

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• Ferme de Montagne (Les Gets, France)

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For rent as a vacation residence. An ancient farmhouse located in the Savoy Alps above the village of Les Gets, an hour from Geneva. During the renovations, the current owners were able to retain the oak beams dating back to 1650. Floors with stones from Burgundy and the windows are also in their original state. A rustic and a comfortable atmosphere with heavy leather armchairs, iron radiators and ancient oak. I read a review of ‘The Observer’ in their web site which says : ”One of the 10 Best Boutique Ski Hotels in the World”.
(enquiries@fermedemontagne.com, fermedemontagne.com)

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• Chalet Eco Farm (Les Houches, France)

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For rent as a vacation residence. House dating from 1781. Owners have a preference for organic produce and an awareness of environmental protection issues. A geothermal heating system, rain water capture, recycled and eco-friendly materials are used. Furnished with modern elements having authentic Alpine character. Antiques from the region are combined with Italian leather sofas. (ski@huski.com, huski.com)

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• Le Chalet des Fermes de Marie (Megève, France)

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For rent as vacation residence as part of the five-star luxury hotel ”Les Fermes de Marie”, just a few minutes on foot from the center of the French winter sports resort of Megève. Three-story house. Rustic furniture made of massive oak and sophisticated natural materials such as furs, horn and leather create a warm charm. The focal point of the building is the lounge area (See photo: the opening image of this post) with a fireplace, a dining room and a reading corner. The lounge opens to the outside terrace. (fermesdemarie.com)

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• Le Chalet (Megève, France)

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For rent as a vacation residence. Located in the French department of Haute-Savoie. A building complex including two hotel chalets and a private chalet. The property is designed with emphasis on simplicity and charm of Alpine mountain lifestyle. All rooms have their own balcony and terrace with a view of the Alps. Has a stylishly furnished salon where tea is served every afternoon in front of the fireplace. ‘Le Chalet’ is one of the hotel collection of the Zannier group (Zannier Hotels). I took a look at the group’s other hotels in Cambodia, Vietnam and Namibia in their web site which all look awesome. The group also announces that they will open a hotel in Mexico in 2023. (zannierhotels.com)

• Chalet Les Brames (Méribel, France)

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For rent as a vacation residence. Was one of the first ‘super chalets’ in the region in the 1990s. The owners launched a total renovation in 2011. One of the most beautiful vacation homes in France. Furnishings of the highest quality. (info@chaletbrames.com, chaletbrames.com)

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Italy

• San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge (St.Lorenzen, Dolomites, Italy)

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For rent as a vacation residence. A hunting chalet dating back to 16th century high above St. Lorenzen at the Dolomite mountains (Dolomites) in South Tyrol. Originally used as a residence for an aristocratic family. Extensive sophisticated woodwork on the doors and paneling. Combination of ancient and modern elements. (info@sanlorenzolodges.com, sanlorenzolodges.com). (Note: Dolomites are characterized by bizarre rocks and majestic peaks with an amazing view especially at sunset and have officially been added to the World Heritage Site list in 2009. [suedtirolerland.it]).

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Norway

• Mountain Lodge Trysil (Trøgstad, Norway)

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For rent as a vacation residence. Eight bedrooms and three bathrooms. Although the owners intended to use the building themselves as a vacation home, the family also wanted to rent it. Practical furnishes, homey atmosphere. Fireplace built out of light spruce wood. Helene Hennie, a well-known interior designer in Norway, handled the decor. (post@mountainlodgetrysil.no, mountainlodgetrysil.no). (Note: I do like the practical and warm Scandinavian style).

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Sweden

• The Villa at Copperhill Mountain Lodge (Åre, Sweden)

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For rent as a vacation residence. Part of ‘Copperhill Mountain Lodge‘ Hotel, property of ‘Nordic Choice Hotels‘ (nordicchoicehotels.com) and member of ‘Design Hotels‘ (designhotels.com), located high up on the mountain, above Åre village and lake with access to the slopes. The slopes of Åreskutan plateau belong to some of the largest and most beautiful ski areas in Sweden. The Villa is private property of Norwegian hotel magnate Petter A. Stordalen, available for rent since 2010. Wooden house with furniture and light fixture from contemporary designers. Norwegian designer Anemone Wille Våge handled the interior; whose projects include furnishing the private apartments of the Norwegian royal couple. (Note: I think it would be beneficial to check the hotels in ‘Nordic Choice Hotels‘ before planning a travel to Scandinavia. I also saw some interesting nice hotels in the web page of ‘Design Hotels‘).

About Tyrol and Marend …

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While I was looking at the chalet book, I came across ‘Tyrol’ and ‘Tyrolean cuisine’ expressions which awakened my curiosity. I found out that Tyrol is the name of the historical region in the Alps in Northern Italy and Western Austria. (wikipedia). Lake Garda -the biggest lake of Italy which I had heard of for its beauty, is partially situated in Tyrol. The largest cities in Tyrol are Innsbruck, Trento and Bolzano. The region encompasses part of the Dolomites, a section of the Italian Alps – where ”San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge” is seen above at top of a magical view. (I liked this book about the Dolomites and this one about Lake Garda. For the book ”Venice, Verona, Lake Garda & the Dolomites with Kids 2020” which looks useful, check here.).

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As I was searching about Tyrolean cuisine, I came across the expression ‘Marend‘ which is explained below:

“Tyrolean Marend,” an afternoon- snack that usually consists of Tyrolean speck, mountain cheese, cured sausages, and fresh-cut bread. Back in the day, the “Marend” was the snack of choice for the hard-working mountain farmers, today it still holds an important social function, bringing together friends, families, and sometimes even strangers. Deeply rooted in tradition, the “Marend” shall be consumed in the company of others with a glass of wine, beer, or a shot of schnapps. (austrianinformation.org; ”Tyrolean Cuisine”) [For ”Tyrolean Specialties” book you may check here and for Alpine cookbooks here.]

Although we see many versions of this snack in restaurants, tapas bars and we prepare versions of it at our homes, it seems that they all originate from ‘Tyrolean Marend’, which looks very rich with natural Alpine flavors. Although I would mostly opt for a delicious pasta, I must admit that a good Marend would go very well while enjoying the Alpine views from the fabulous Chalets above.

Note: My Chalet book ”Living in Style Mountain Chalets” (English, German and French edition), that I mentioned in the 1st paragraph of this post is also available in Amazon here. For the English edition only (2018 publication) check here.
If you are interested in the Alpine style and decoration, you can also check the books ‘Alpine Interiors‘, ‘Ski Style‘ and ‘Modern Living: Chalet Style‘.