An independent guide to luxury ski chalets
From £7,550 for whole chalet
Superb wow factor penthouse loft
usp
The Heinz Julen Penthouse is, as the name suggests, the former home of Zermatt star architect Heinz Julen, who has put his stamp on numerous establishments in the resort including Vernissage, the ice cool bar-cum-art gallery, and The Loft party pad. Like his other properties, The Penthouse is hugely stylish, extremely clever, and has to be one of the most original chalets in Zermatt.
location
The Penthouse is located high up, with a bird’s nest view of the village, on the floors above sister apartment The Loft. It is accessed via a lift up through the Omnia Hotel and a bit of a climb beyond that. Directly below is the very centre of Zermatt and the main street close to the church.
style
Heinz Julen chic. The Penthouse is hugely bright and airy, drenched in light and sitting right up in the eaves of the building with skylights and glass galore. There is bleached wood, pale cow skin rugs, cream designer chairs, white soft furnishings and light everywhere, but it manages to be cosy rather than just design magaziney. It is an extraordinary three-level apartment with 260 sq m of space including a huge living area with a dining section, open-plan kitchen, two terraces and three separate seating areas. ^
rooms
There are four bedrooms, including a knock-out master bedroom with centrally positioned free-standing Jacuzzi bath plus separate shower room and sloping glass ceilings. This is on the top floor, while two others are in the eaves of the main floor and a fourth is on the floor below, beside the sauna. Each is a good size and beautifully appointed, with Julen’s signature chairs. ^
food & drink
The Penthouse can be let either catered or uncatered, but it will always be catered for peak weeks. The standard of food and wine is genuinely excellent: five courses of delicious fare, either light and international or locally inspired mountain food, are served each night with champagne and carefully selected Swiss and French pairing wines. The champagne is Moet et Chandon Brut Imperial. ^
service
The Penthouse has its own chef and host and comes with full concierge services including restaurant booking and ski pass arranging. The staff are young and personable but extremely professional. ^
spa facilities
The Penthouse has a good-sized glass-fronted sauna and an exercise room with a treadmill and loungers to relax in, all on the bottom floor. ^
children
In a way the super-duper designer interiors would be wasted on children, but the chalet is perfectly safe and family friendly. Games and toys can be provided and nannies can be arranged at an extra cost. ^
extras
Aside from all the fabulous industrial chic Julen design touches (fireplace in glass case, chandeliers, original hand-made chairs), guests are offered a free day of ski guiding or a day out with the chalet operator’s Gourmet Ski Guide who will show you round resort then book you into one of Zermatt’s fabled mountain restaurants and share lunch with you. You will be guaranteed one of the best tables in the house and excellent service. There is also wifi throughout the chalet. ^
for skiers
Zermatt is a world class resort with skiing for everyone, from beginners to off-piste junkies. It is a huge ski area and, combined with Cervinia on the Italian side of the Matterhorn, it offers a vast amount of skiing that includes glacial motorway runs, challenging reds and blacks and winding trails through trees. Adventurous heliskiing is also possible in Switzerland. ^
for non skiers
There is plenty to do in Zermatt for non-skiers, such as lots of lovely shopping, or a visit to the fascinating Matterhorn museum where you can experience the old world of Zermatt including the terrifying first ascent of the Matterhorn. Lunch in one of the many fabulous mountain restaurants is also a must, and many are accessible via the lift system, while the nearby Mont Cervin hotel has an excellent day spa that is open to non-residents. Paragliding, snow-shoeing and ice skating are also all on offer. ^
Corporate Groups
Combining The Loft and the Heinz Julen Penthouse above it gives you the Number 1 address in Zermatt for an intimate corporate event for 12. These two super cool chalets offer the perfect pad to enjoy the slopes and the late night buzz of Zermatt. ^
best thing
The wow factor interior design. ^
worst thing
The climb up to the chalet. ^
getting there
Zermatt can be accessed via Geneva (a transfer of around 3hrs 30mins by train or taxi) or via Zurich, which is an extra hour away. A heli transfer from either takes around an hour. ^
bottom line
The Heinz Julen Penthouse costs from as little as £3470 self-catered out of season but soars to £18,877 catered for peak weeks, which is around £2360 per person. The average weekly price per person is around £1850. ^
bookings & enquiries
If you would like to make an enquiry or a booking, please email enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk. Remember, we have visited all the chalets we feature so can give you totally unbiased, independent advice on all of them. The prices we quote are also the list prices quoted by the chalets themselves, so there is no advantage in going to the chalets direct.
Chalet - 10
Service - 8
Room - 10
Food & Drink - 8
Luxury - 9
Book your skis into a locker at the bottom of the Klein Matterhorn lift to avoid carrying them up to the chalet.
Quickfinder
• USP
•Location
• Style
• Rooms
• Food & Drink
• Service
• Spa Facilities
• Children
• Extras
• Skiers
• Non Skiers
• Best Thing
• Worst Thing
• Corporate Groups
• Getting There
• Bottom Line
• Bookings & Enquiries
• Summer
• Weekends & short breaks
• Other chalets in this resort
zermatt
RESORT GUIDE
The Chic Chalet Guide to Zermatt
how to book
Email: enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk Telephone:
+44 (0)7772 853996
guest book
"Everything was excellent. The accommodation, the cleanliness, the facilities, the catering – all excellent. Would we come back? Yes! The team was fantastic and our holiday incredible – we just wish we could stay longer”
“The chalet was of a really high standard, and the food was very imaginative and professional. The service was exceptional – the team were really helpful, lovely people.”
“Our holiday was very enjoyable; we were spoilt. The chalet was great and everything was top quality."
summer
Yes, usually on a self-catered basis but a chef can be brought in if required.
ski weekends
The sister Zermatt chalets of Chalet
Gemini, The Lodge, The Loft and Heinz Julen Penthouse all run ski weekends and reverse weekends. Pricing depends on the week – peak weeks are full price for the week, while weekends are between 15-30% off the full week price and reverse weekends are discounted between 20-40%.
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