Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Some buildings are at one with their station. Addresses that seem to have been there forever, integrated into the landscape like a familiar landmark. At Arc 1600, " La Cachette "is one of those places that saw the birth of the modern mountain. Built in 1971, at the height of the golden age of integrated architecture, it was conceived from the outset as a link between accommodation, a shopping mall and the nerve centre of the resort.
But like so many others, this beautiful Savoyard hotel had fallen asleep. Until the Friendly Hotels family, led by Laurent Chelle - himself an 'Arcadian' at heart - decided to wake it up.
- READ MORE: "Promoting Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs all year round": Laurent Chelle in Le Petit Montagnard
"It was a beautiful sleepy place, but perfectly situated, with a real history and tremendous potential". he confides. And a mission: to revive the original spirit, combining heritage with modern comfort.
A metamorphosis in keeping with the spirit of the place
Bought out in 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, "La Cachette" began its transformation. Ten million euros were invested to reinvent everything, without betraying anything. "We've gone back to the drawing board, but with respect: rediscovering the great architectural principles of the 1970s, such as the blurring of the inside/outside boundary, the abundance of light and the use of slopes. explains the owner.
The changes are far-reaching: new soundproofing, furniture largely sourced from Selency, raw materials (solid wood, natural stone, local wool woven by Arpin, etc.) - everything has been designed to give the establishment warmth, coherence and character.
The Patriarche practice, a leading name in contemporary Alpine architecture, is overseeing the project. "La Cachette" has been brought back to life with a new, sober elegance, a far cry from the Tyrolean pastiches that have sometimes obliterated the identity of French resorts.
A four-star hotel, open summer and winter
With its 88 rooms, 260 beds and central location, just a stone's throw from the funicular linking Bourg Saint Maurice, "La Cachette" is now the largest hotel in Arc 1600.
"And above all, one of the few to open in the summer, which is making a huge difference to the local economy. stresses Laurent Chelle. It's a no-brainer for the man who has been campaigning for years to keep the mountains alive all year round.
The "Friendly Kitchen" restaurant caters for hotel guests and visitors alike, with a high-quality buffet menu, including a popular seafood buffet on Thursday evenings. In summer, the panoramic terrace becomes a lively place, and the Thursday funicular, extended until 11pm, allows locals to come and enjoy the evening at an altitude of 1,600 metres.
Reinventing well-being for athletes (and others)
But it is undoubtedly in its spa that 'La Cachette' best reveals its new identity. The hotel offers a bright, open space dedicated to recuperation and active relaxation.
Two jacuzzis, a sauna, four treatment rooms and a strong partnership with PhysioSki: here, massages are designed for bodies on the move, hikers and skiers alike.
"We're in the mountains, not by the sea: what we offer are useful, restorative treatments provided by osteopaths or physiotherapists". insists the manager. Success was immediate. "Even the founder of PhysioSki couldn't believe how fast it was growing". he says with a smile.
A place that also thinks differently about the world of work
Aware of the gradual blurring of the boundaries between work and personal life, Laurent Chelle also wanted to make "La Cachette" a place of hospitality in the broadest sense.
You can sit there and telework undisturbed, find a quiet corner for a video, without necessarily needing a structured co-working space. "We don't sell offices, we sell a time when you feel good.
Everything is designed to provide integrated service and simple, fair comfort: ultra-efficient wifi, top-of-the-range bedding, perfectly controlled silence in the rooms. Discreet but omnipresent.