Jaeger-LeCoultre Introduces Le Chalet
A DEEPLY AUTHENTIC IMMERSION INTO A TRADITIONAL SWISS ALPINE CHALET
PRESS RELEASE | 988 WORDS | 10 MINUTE READ
Jaeger-LeCoultre is delighted to unveil Le Chalet, a beautifully restored traditional farm building nestled in the heart of the Vallée de Joux. From its very origin, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been a Manufacture, a visionary concept that united all watchmaking crafts under one roof. This unique structure has been fundamental to the Maison's identity as well as its relentless pursuit of horological excellence, fostering innovation and ensuring the highest standards of quality.
Photo Courtesy: Jaeger-LeCoultre
More than a restoration project, Le Chalet represents an enchanted escape into the serenity of the Vallée de Joux, where Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers have worked in harmony with nature for nearly two centuries. Drawing inspiration from the elements of their surroundings, they have shaped their craft in this unique landscape, fostering a deep connection between the Maison’s heritage and the region’s traditions.
This restoration, undertaken in partnership with the commune of Le Chenit – which includes Le Sentier, the home of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre – goes beyond preserving a historic building. Le Chalet offers an extraordinary experience: a secluded retreat surrounded by pristine forests and untouched meadows, where visitors can step into the timeless harmony of the Vallée de Joux. Here, amidst the tranquillity of nature, tradition and craftsmanship exist in perfect symbiosis, creating an environment that feels both authentic and utterly out of the ordinary.
A MICROCOSM OF TRADITION, BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED
Located at an altitude of 1,360 metres on the western side of Mont Tendre, Le Chalet is a restored 19th century chalet d’alpage. Now owned by the commune of Le Chenit, it was once the property of a farmer from the valley who would move his cattle up to the high meadows (alpages in French) during summer. This magical location, known as ‘Les Chaumilles’ – a diminutive of the local dialect word chaux or small grazing area – overlooks Le Sentier and the Joux lake.
Surrounded by an ancient meadow punctuated with lapiaz – rain-sculpted fissures in the underlying limestone rocks – and set amid pristine pine forest, Le Chalet represents a deeply traditional rhythm of life that has changed little since the very first farmers drove their herds up from the valley to graze on the lush summer pasture. According to tradition, the cows would be milked on site and cheese would be made on the spot.
Typical of all such buildings in the Jura, Le Chalet originally comprised a stable, barn and cheese production area. Embracing its heritage, with much of the original wood carefully cleaned and restored, as well as complemented by additional planks, the main open-plan barn will be used as a space for dining and entertaining, overlooked by a cosy mezzanine lounge area. The simple yet sophisticated décor places full value on the beauty of the space. At its heart is the thuyé – the traditional pyramid-shaped chimney above the heated cauldron where fresh milk was curdled into cheese – its ancient wood beautifully preserved and restored. The chalet’s old milk room – once used for drying freshly-made cheese – has become a kitchen where a chef will prepare special menus for guests, focusing on traditional recipes and seasonal ingredients from the valley – especially cheese such as the local Vacherin.
Le Chalet’s north-east- and south-west-facing facades are clad in the tavaillon (wooden tiles) used on traditional Vallée de Joux buildings to provide protection from the harsh winter climate and strong winds. The hand-cutting and laying of the shingles is an ancestral skill developed in the Swiss Jura in the 15th century and handed down through the generations. In a remarkable effort to preserve this heritage, local artisans completely replaced the old tavaillons with new ones, crafted from wood sourced from the surrounding forest.
CONNECTING WITH THE SOUL OF THE VALLÉE DE JOUX
Time spent at Le Chalet is a one-of-a-kind adventure that blends rustic simplicity with deep sophistication – a treasured opportunity to step away from daily life and connect with the soul of the Vallée de Joux, its culture, history and people. Guests will experience the authentic world of the valley where, in the mid-16th century, Pierre LeCoultre took refuge after fleeing from France and, 10 generations later, his descendant Antoine LeCoultre founded the watchmaking atelier that grew to become the Manufacture Jaeger LeCoultre. Set in the wilderness, yet less than 10 minutes’ drive from the Manufacture in Le Sentier, the surroundings are profoundly peaceful – the silence broken only by the sound of cowbells, the sighing of the breeze in the pine trees and sometimes, by the greetings of deer herds.
The opportunity to experience Le Chalet will be reserved exclusively for visitors invited by the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. By not only supporting Le Chalet’s physical restoration but also creating a new role for it as a place to receive guests who are visiting the Manufacture, La Grande Maison has helped to ensure the preservation of a historic jewel for generations to come.
KEY FACTS:
• An immersion in the authentic environment of the Vallée de Joux, where watchmakers have been working in symbiosis with nature for centuries
• Restoration of a 19th-century chalet preserves the cultural patrimony for future generations
• A rare and unique experience for guests of La Grande Maison
ABOUT JAEGER-LECOULTRE – THE WATCHMAKER OF WATCHMAKERS™
Since 1833, driven by an unquenchable thirst for innovation and creativity, and inspired by the peaceful natural surroundings of its home in the Vallée de Joux, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been distinguished by its mastery of complications and the precision of its mechanisms. Known as the Watchmaker of Watchmakers™, the Manufacture has expressed its relentlessly inventive spirit through the creation of more than 1,400 different calibres and the award of more than 430 patents. Harnessing over 190 years of accumulated expertise, La Grande Maison’s watchmakers design, produce, finish and ornament the most advanced and precise mechanisms, blending passion with centuries-old savoir-faire, linking the past to the future, timeless but always up with the times. With 180 skills brought together under one roof, the Manufacture creates fine timepieces that combine technical ingenuity with aesthetic beauty and a distinctively understated sophistication.
For further information visit jaeger-lecoultre.com