New ‘La Folie Douce’ turns up the tempo in Alpe d’Huez
The Alpe d’Huez slopes will come alive to the sound of the best music in town this season following this week’s opening of La Folie Douce’s fourth venue in the French Alps.
The latest member of La Folie Douce’s upscale family of alpine entertainment, the new mountain village has brought its legendary combination of gourmet cuisine by day with high-altitude après-ski by night to the heart of the Grandes Rousses mountain range.
Luc Reversade, founder of La Folie Douce, said: “Alpe d’Huez’s combination of beautiful scenery plus guaranteed snow and sunshine has always made the resort a great place to holiday. We believe we’ve created the perfect spot in Alpe d’Huez to refuel over a sumptuous lunch, enjoy a drink on the terrace with friends, take in the stunning views and celebrate a great day’s skiing with the best music in town.”
The venue’s two contemporary mountain restaurants will be serving up their innovative take on classic cuisine every lunch time using the finest local ingredients. The differing menu styles have been designed by double Michelin-starred French chef Christophe Aribert to satisfy every appetite and cater for every budget, with the choice of dining indoors or on the south-facing terrace.
Foodies will be in heaven at La Folie Douce’s premium dining experience, La Fruitière. With high class cuisine and impeccable service brought to the high peaks of Alpe d’Huez, plus an outstanding wine menu to match, the lovingly crafted gourmet dishes are created under the expert guidance of the award-winning Yann Tanneau. Prices for a three-course lunch start from around £36 (€43). For those in the market for a more informal lunch or simple afternoon snacks - without scrimping on quality - Le Nuvo Self combines an upmarket canteen style with a great atmosphere and is open throughout the day.
As the afternoon takes over, singer and artistic director Ange Fandoh will take to the stage with the resident DJ to ease guests into an après-ski frame of mind via the venue’s distinct blend of live soul-electro performances. Whether in the mood for open-air clubbing at altitude or a chance to unwind after a day on the slopes, La Folie Douce’s winning formula of a welcoming and fun atmosphere that doesn’t take itself too seriously is guaranteed.
With classic views across the mountain bowl from its south-facing bar and terrace – La Terrasse - La Folie Douce Alpe d’Huez is located at 2,300m on the Plat des Marmottes. Reached by the Marmottes 1 high-speed chairlift it has great links to the resorts of Oz en Oisans, Auris, Vaujany and Villard Reculas and is easily accessible for pedestrians and skiers alike.
Jean Baptiste Gravier, manager of the new Alpe d’Huez property, added: “As our magic has spread across the French Alps, La Folie Douce has become synonymous with the ultimate in après-ski fun. We’re therefore delighted to be bringing La Folie Douce’s own touch of ‘sweet madness’ to one of Europe’s best loved resorts.”
VIP SKI has five chalets in Alpe d’Huez, all set around an atmospheric courtyard at the base of the lifts. The VIP CLUB Chateau sleeps 15 guests in 7 rooms. Prices for 7 nights start from £869pp based on two sharing on a chalet board basis including return flights from London Gatwick, resort transfers and a free bar (wine and beer). (vip-chalets.com). Pierre & Vacances, meanwhile, has three Alpe d’Huez residences offering a range of differently sized self-catering apartments. The Residence L’Ours Blanc is located in the resort centre, overlooking the ice rink. Prices for 7 nights start from £476 for a studio apartment sleeping up to 4. (pierreetvacances.co.uk).
For more information on the new La Folie Douce Alpe d’Huez visit lafoliedouce.com.
