Travel book · Alpes du Nord

Mont d'Arbois and Megève: a century of Rothschild history

By the AEC Collection team Updated on 28 May 2026 4 min read

In 1921, the baroness Noémie de Rothschild purchased hundreds of hectares of meadow above the village of Megève and commissioned the construction of the Hôtel du Mont d’Arbois. This marked the beginning of a century of family investment that structurally shaped the resort, at a time when skiing remained an aristocratic curiosity. Without the Rothschilds, Megève would not exist in its present form.

The story begins in Saint-Moritz, where Noémie spent time during the 1910s. She encountered European aristocracy there, and in the years following the First World War, German officers. A patriot, she sought a French location that could serve as a French equivalent of Saint-Moritz. The Mont d’Arbois plateau, at 1,850 metres, appealed to her for its views across the Mont-Blanc range. She purchased the land, built, and opened the resort. The palace became known as the “Palace of the Snows”.

Three massifs, one domain

Megève’s ski domain is arranged across three distinct relief systems: Mont d’Arbois (1,833m) to the east, Rochebrune (1,754m) to the south-west, and Le Jaillet (1,580m) to the west. They are now connected by lift systems and shuttle services, forming a unified domain.

The resort progressively equipped its sites during the 1930s. An ice rink in 1929, a cinema in 1931, then a landmark achievement in 1933: the Rochebrune cable car was France’s first cable car purpose-built for skiing. The Mont d’Arbois cable car followed in 1934. The Côte 2000 sector was developed in 1962 on the Rochebrune massif, with two drag lifts positioned between 1,400 and 2,014 metres: the Radaz chairlift and the Côte 2000 ski tow.

The Mont d’Arbois sector

The Mont d’Arbois plateau remains the resort’s signature sector. Its south-facing slopes receive long hours of sunshine, and its altitude maintains reasonable snow cover from mid-December to mid-April. The Princesse run (red) descends from the summit over 5 kilometres through a larch forest.

The Mont d’Arbois, Côte 2000, Saint-Gervais link allows skiers to cover three communes in a single day. The traverse to Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce, on the north-facing slope, provides access to quieter terrain and greater technical variety.

Edmond and the international dimension

After the Second World War, Baron Edmond de Rothschild took up his mother’s vision. He had an aerodrome constructed (Megève’s altiport, one of Europe’s highest at 1,458m), modernised hotel infrastructure, and expanded the international clientele. Thirty years of personal commitment, until his death in 1997. His wife Nadine, and subsequently his children, continued the family presence.

The Domaine du Mont d’Arbois remains today a distinct entity: three hotels (Le Chalet du Mont d’Arbois, Les Fermes de Marie under lease, L’Auberge du Côte 2000), two gastronomic restaurants (1920 Michelin-starred, La Taverne), an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian school.

Megève

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Practical information: access and lift passes

Megève is 1 hour 15 minutes from Geneva by car (motorway to Sallanches, then mountain road). Geneva airport remains the principal air access. For arrivals in France: Annecy (1 hour), Lyon (2 hours), Chambéry (1 hour 30 minutes).

The Évasion Mont-Blanc pass (445km shared with Saint-Gervais, Combloux, Le Jaillet, Les Contamines) is the comprehensive option. The Megève alone pass (175km) is sufficient for 3-4 days without repetition. Dynamic pricing; advance purchase advised.

When to visit

Late December to mid-April for skiing. The second fortnight of January and the first fortnight of March combine snow with moderate crowds. In summer (June to September), Megève is equally active: golf, hiking, music festival. The main off-season periods are April, May and October, November, when the resort is quieter.