Everyone feels welcome at this much-loved family home in the mountains
- Chalet
- Slopes 1 km, Village 5.6 km
- Ski bus 50 m
- Great for families
- Sauna in the garden
- Panoramic views, play area
Property tour
About Chalet Arsene et Lea ...
This family-friendly chalet near the village of Manigod is just 1km from the pistes and the ski bus stops just across the road, so you’ll waste no time getting on the slopes.
It was built by the owners’ grandparents, after whom it is named, and the present owners have renovated it using the original materials. Their work now takes them all over the world, and the decor of the chalet reflects that, with a wealth of souvenirs from their travels.
There are two young children in the family, so it’s no surprise the chalet was designed with them in mind - there’s a flat garden bordered by shrubs on the road side with swings and a petanque piste to the rear of the chalet, and a play area complete with toys indoors. However, there are some steep open stairs, which may not be suitable for toddlers.
The chalet is right on the road, which is regularly cleared of snow, so access isn’t a problem, and the views are incredible - look across the Manigod valley to Etale, Val Sulens, Mont Charvin and Tournette. There is a garage where you can store skis, bikes etc and outdoor gear, as well as parking for four cars. Plus there’s an extra special surprise in the mazot in the garden...
The property ...
This much-loved home is a perfect base for a large family group. Enter on the ground floor where you'll find the kitchen, a dining area, a living room with a large central stone fireplace and a library area, which was made from the manger in the original farmhouse.
Glass doors open on to the sunny wooden deck and flat garden, which has incredible views over the valley There is also a large bathroom with walk-in shower and a double bedroom on this floor. An open staircase leads to the first floor, which is a large open plan room divided into several "zones" - curl up on the sofas in front of the television while the children keep themselves busy in the play area.
There's a double bedroom with an en suite shower room, dressing room and doors to the garden, and above this there's a cosy mezzanine bedroom with two single beds which can be joined to form a double bed. Finally, there are bunk beds in a cabin-style bedroom which children will love.
Outside in the garden there's a surprise waiting in the mazot - an authentic Scandinavian sauna. Follow it with a roll in the snow for best results!
About the area ...
Skiers will love this chalet, just a few minutes’ drive from the lifts at Croix Fry. If you’d rather not drive, the ski bus stops just outside your door.
There’s an ESF ski school base at Croix Fry, where beginners will love the gentle nursery slopes. Those with more experience can ski from here or explore the 220km of pistes between La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand, which are all covered by the Aravis ski pass.
Cross-country skiers will find plenty of trails to choose from on the nearby Beauregard plateau, as well as snow shoe trails, with a view across to Mont Blanc.
If there are non-skiers in your party, there are heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools at La Clusaz as well as an ice-skating rink and cinema. You could also try snow-shoe walking, dog-sledding and sleigh rides. You’ll be ready to relax after an action-packed day - the sauna back at Chalet Arsene et Lea is the perfect place to soothe those tired muscles!
You’ll never be stuck for something to do in the Aravis valley in the summer. There’s no shortage of walks, from mountain trails to hiking on the Gliéres plateau, the scene of the Resistance’s campaign against the German army in World War II.
The ski lifts will take walkers or cyclists and their bikes up the mountains, so they can come down at their own pace, and adrenalin junkies can try paragliding, canyoning, climbing, or white-water rafting within a few miles of Manigod. Via ferrata is another great family day out, with children as young as eight able to explore the mountains secured to a harness.
The medieval lakeside town of Annecy is just 30 minutes away by car and is a great place for a day out, whatever the season, with a wide range of restaurants, shops and museums. In the summer it's a great place for watersports, or hire a boat and explore some of the quiet lakeside beaches.
You’ll have plenty of experiences to share back at the chalet, perhaps over a beer and a game of petanque as the sun sets...
What next?
If you think a family holiday at Chalet Arsene et Lea is just what you need, check our calendar for availability - we will be happy to hold your dates for you for 24 hours while you finalise your plans. But don't wait too long - family-friendly chalets like this are always in big demand.
“A super attentive welcome with a good bottle and a terrine”
— Rosalie S.
“We loved everything about the chalet itself and the location”
— Andrea B.
“Authentic chalet with an exceptional view!”
— Alain Et Caroline C.
Other properties you might like...
Features
- Sauna
- Child friendly
- Fireplace
- Terrace
- Petanque
- Ski store
- More
Inclusions
- Free WiFi
- Linen and towels provided
- Firewood provided
- Animals welcome
- Non-smoking rental
- Car recommended
- More
- Check-in: after 16h00
- Check-out: before 10h00
Full list of features, inclusions, activities, nearby points of interest and special conditions:
Deposit
Book 8 weeks or more before your arrival date and pay only 25% to secure your booking.
The full amount of your rental is due 8 weeks prior to your arrival date
Cancellation
Free cancellation if you cancel 6 months or more before your arrival date
· 8 weeks to 6 months before arrival: 25% fee applies
· Less than 8 weeks before arrival: no refund
We recommend that you take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover any costs associated with the potential cancellation or curtailment of your trip.
Please Note
Please note that Chalet Arsene & Lea is situated on the main road to the Col de la Croix Fry (where the ski fields are), which makes it very convenient in winter but does mean that in busy periods there can be a fair amount of traffic noise.
Every stay includes
WiFi
Local tips & concierge
Linen & towels
Sparkling cleaning
Location
Manigod - La Clusaz
Set in one of the most beautiful Alpine valleys, the village of Manigod is a mountain secret that is a delight to discover.
With its own ski area linking into the famed La Clusaz ski resort, Manigod offers fabulous skiing in winter and world class cycling in the summer.
Beautiful chalets are dotted around the mountains, restaurants range from local auberges to Michelin starred, and you can buy locally made pottery and cheeses fresh from the farm.
Getting around
- Ski slopes
- 1 km
- Ski bus stop
- 50 m
- Town centre
- 5.6 km
- Supermarket
- 11 km
The OVO Network Review
Arsene and Lea is a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom restored farmhouse for 8 (max 7 adults) spread over 2 floors, and 170m2 of floor space.
The configuartion of the chalet is quite unusual. On the ground floor there is a garage, an entrance hall, a double bedroom, a family bathroom with wc, the kitchen and the dining area.
There is also a unique Moroccon themed cosy corner around the wood burner - the owners, who are keen travellers, love this cosy snug space in their mountain home. There is a more conventional lounge on the first floor.
The first floor is a large open plan space with a more contemporary sofa area, a bunk room corner (which is not closed off completely) a library, a play area and a double ensuite bedroom, the roof of which forms the floor of a mezzanine area which is another double sleeping area, beneath the eaves of the chalet, open to and overlooking the the rest of the first floor. The photos and 360 degree virtual tour photos on the website describe the spaces perhaps more clearly than these words!
The chalet sits above the road 1km from the slopes at Croix Fry , 6km from Manigod village, ensuring easy access to the hill for nervous drivers even in heavy snow conditions. The south facing balcony is a perfect spot from which to view the Tour de France when it passes this way.
The owners have planted shrubs between the garden and the road to provide some seperation, and dampen some of the sound of passing traffic, again please refer to the photos to better understand the layout. They have also sited the children's slide/ swings and the petanque court in the large flat (!) space to the rear of the property.
With superb views from the terrace outside the dining area, and the sauna in the mazot, Arsene and Lea is one unique property that we know family groups and groups of friends appreciate tremendously. Plus the manager delivers fresh croissants and bread every morning! For those guests wanting to try Savoyard with a twist, rather than those wanting something more traditional!
The OVO Team.
What is the OVO Network Review?
We visit the property and write an unbiased review. What’s good? What’s not so good? We’ll help you find the right chalet for you.
From the owner
Pierre
In 1938, my grandfather Arsène, a farmer, decided to build a mountain chalet so that the cows could graze on the summer pastures. He took a carpenter and used the spruce trees in the forests above the site.
My grandmother Léa collected and dried the tree moss, which they used as insulation between the beams.
I was lucky enough to inherit this chalet, which means so much to me (I spent many holidays there, during the summer and at Christmas, when my grandfather took the cows back up to feed on the hay from the barn).
I renovated the ground floor in 1994 and the first floor in 2004, using some of the features of the old property. For example, I used the mangers in the library and some of the stone in the fireplace - a mixture of the grey Aravis limestone and the darker sandstone from Beauregard and Sulens.
The wood for the floor in the living room came from the church in the village of Les Clefs.
Finally, having travelled a lot in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, my wife and I decided to build a sauna in the garden - a proper wood-fired sauna, which reaches the perfect temperature in 30 minutes. Try following it with a roll in the snow, perfect !
The chalet has been our main home until now - we always feel so at home in its welcoming atmosphere. But now, a taste for adventure is taking us off to other destinations. We'll be back for our holidays, though!
Pierre and Marilyne
Who is the owner?
OVO Network is the official booking partner for Chalet Arsene et Lea.
Your booking will be made directly with Pierre, who will also take and hold your payment until your arrival.
Guest reviews
“A super attentive welcome with a good bottle and a terrine”
A super attentive welcome with a good bottle and a terrine. The bedding is great.
“We loved everything about the chalet itself and the location”
My family had a great stay here. We loved everything about the chalet itself and the location: the authenticity of the chalet design; the easy and relaxing upstairs lounge space; the sauna; the wonderful views. We found the location of the road to be a benefit as the traffic was minimal and we did not have to leave the main road in the snow, which would have been a challenge for us!
“Authentic chalet with an exceptional view!”
The charm of the old chalet while providing modern comfort. It is an authentic chalet with an exceptional view!
