apt. N°1, Les Secrets de Mélanie
Welcome to
Les Secrets de Mélanie, apartment n°1 of the iconic
Bel Air residence, nestled in the peaceful hamlet of
Le Lavanchy in Montriond, only a few minutes from Lake Montriond and the slopes of Avoriaz.
This apartment belongs to the mysterious and poetic universe of the
“Les Secrets” collection, one of the three thematic worlds imagined within Bel Air alongside
“Fantastique” (inspired by the legendary Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival) and
“Dassault” (a tribute to aviation and alpine exploration).
Here, the atmosphere changes entirely.
Les Secrets de Mélanie draws inspiration from forgotten mountain legends, old Savoyard tales whispered during winter evenings, and the mysterious stories once shared by villagers after long days working in the forests and alpine pastures surrounding Montriond.
For centuries, mountain life in this valley was deeply connected to nature, silence, and oral traditions.
Before ski resorts, before roads climbed toward Avoriaz, these mountains belonged almost entirely to shepherds, woodcutters, monks, smugglers, and isolated farming families living through harsh winters where snow could cut the village off from the outside world for days.
During those endless evenings beside fireplaces, stories became part of survival itself.
People spoke of hidden paths through the forests, unexplained lights reflected on the cliffs above Lake Montriond, mysterious travellers disappearing in snowstorms, and protective spirits believed to watch silently over isolated chalets.
Some local legends told of women appearing at twilight near frozen rivers before vanishing into the mist.
Others spoke of bells heard deep in the mountains long after abandoned alpine chapels had disappeared beneath avalanches centuries earlier.
Even today, older generations in the valley still share fragments of these forgotten stories.
The apartment subtly reinterprets this mysterious alpine heritage through warm textures, intimate lighting, noble materials, deep colours, and elegant mountain design inspired by hidden refuges and old Savoyard homes.
Every detail has been imagined to create the feeling of entering a timeless sanctuary suspended somewhere between mountain legend and contemporary comfort.
And then there is Bel Air itself.
Few buildings in the valley possess such a fascinating story.
Originally built in the late 19th century by a Parisian family who settled in Montriond seeking fresh mountain air and tranquility, the property became one of the first meeting places of village life.
Farmers and locals gathered there after working in the fields, long before tourism transformed the region.
During the 1960s, the residence was completely redesigned by architect
René Faublée, also known for designing the famous chapel of Avoriaz.
Influenced by the movement of
Neo-Brutalism, he transformed Bel Air into a bold architectural structure of raw concrete and clean geometric lines, inspired by the avant-garde mountain modernism emerging across the Alps during that era.
At first glance, its exterior may surprise visitors accustomed to traditional wooden chalets.
Yet this contrast is precisely what gives Bel Air its unique soul.
Today, the apartments have been entirely renovated with elegance and refinement while preserving the strong architectural identity and fascinating history of the building.
Designed as an intimate alpine cocoon for a couple, with or without a child,
Les Secrets de Mélanie invites guests into a softer and more mysterious vision of the mountain, one where stories, silence, and atmosphere matter as much as landscapes themselves.
- Fully equipped kitchen: stovetop, oven, refrigerator, kettle, Nespresso coffee machine, and all essentials for cooking at home
- Bathroom: walk-in shower, sink, toilet
- Comfortable sleeping area: king-size bed, refined furnishings, Smart TV with Netflix and live channels
- Premium hotel-quality linen included: beds prepared before arrival and towels provided
- Exceptional location: only minutes from Lake Montriond, forests, waterfalls, ski lifts, hiking trails, and directly opposite the free shuttle stop serving Avoriaz and Morzine
The free shuttle stopping directly outside the residence provides easy access to:
- Lake Montriond
- The Ardent waterfall
- The Ardent cable car and the Portes du Soleil ski area
- Avoriaz resort
- Morzine village center
In every season, the surrounding landscapes transform completely.
In winter, heavy snow muffles the forests and turns the valley into a silent white world illuminated by warm chalet lights and distant mountain peaks.
In summer, waterfalls, rivers, alpine flowers, and pine forests create an entirely different atmosphere filled with light, birdsong, and fresh mountain air.
Few places capture the mysterious beauty of the Alps quite like Montriond.
A hidden mountain refuge suspended between forgotten legends, brutalist architecture, Savoyard history, and timeless alpine elegance.
