The classic ski holiday image involves staying in a cosy, snow-topped chalet and relaxing by a warm fire after a day on the slopes, hot chocolate in hand. But the relative luxury of today’s chalet is in fact at odds with their origin. The term ‘chalet’ actually stems from the Arpitan speaking part of Switzerland and originally referred to the ‘hut of a herder’.
With the emergence of the Alpine travel business, chalets were gradually transformed from seasonal dairy cattle farms into holiday homes used by ski and hiking enthusiasts. Over the years, the term ‘chalet’ transformed to its modern general meaning of a ‘vacation house built in an Alpine style’. Chalets can now be found across European and Northern American ski resorts.




