Maisons Pariente, the French family group behind Le Coucou in Méribel and Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez, is opening its fifth property — and second Alpine address — this winter. Saint Roch sits right on the Bellecôte piste in Courchevel 1850, steps from the village centre, in a building that has long been a resort landmark, now completely reimagined.
The look is deliberately un-alpine in the usual sense. Paris studio Friedmann & Versace drew on Slavic dachas, Persian craft and even Mongolian steppe references, layering patinated wood, stone, velvet, bronze and agate into something more like a collector's mountain home than a chalet showroom. Standout details include agate-stained glass by Atelier Toporkoff, mosaic frescoes by Pierre Mesguich and ceramics by French artisans, with an art collection mixing twentieth-century works and contemporary pieces.
There are 37 rooms and suites, coloured in deep tobacco, garnet, moss and midnight hues. At the top, two Prestige Suites of roughly 750 sq ft each can be combined with three adjoining rooms to take the entire fifth floor as a Penthouse — effectively a private apartment for one family or group.
Shared spaces are the real draw: a fireside living room built for long conversations, a low-lit restaurant, a golden-lit bar for the gap between slopes and dinner, and a Kids Club. The spa is styled as a retreat of its own, with hammam-like arches, veined marble, a marble-mosaic pool shower and Tata Harper treatments, plus a light-filled fitness room.
For skiers, the location is hard to beat — ski-in access straight onto the Bellecôte piste and into the 3 Vallées, one of the world's largest ski areas, with an on-site ski shop handling fittings. Courchevel 1850 is about 90 minutes from Geneva, with Lyon, Chambéry, Grenoble and Annecy as alternatives; the last leg can be a scenic drive, a train to Moûtiers, or a helicopter into the Courchevel Altiport. Non-skiers get a concierge-arranged menu of dog-sledding, night snowmobiling, mountain flights and high-altitude dinners.
If your idea of a ski trip involves design detail as much as powder, Saint Roch is one to watch for this winter's booking season.