This is the story of an old family farm that was transformed over time into a comfortable, 2 star hotel.

In early summer 1947, the Gai Soleil Hotel welcomed its first customers.  But this was not the Gai Soleil Hotel we know today…

First, was the farm built in 1823 by Pierre-Joseph Mermoud to accommodate his large family. Born in 1796, he married twice, had four children from first marriage and ten from the second. This might explain why he had four houses!

These old photos show the farm that was to become the Gai Soleil Hotel: a building firmly set with walls of 80 to 90 cm thick, upper east and west facades of wood on two levels, a "suite" on the west facade and an “ancelle” roof (spruce timbers set on an incline).

Few houses in Les Contamines still have such an elegant arch as the entrance to the Gai Soleil Hotel. It was built in the 1820s, with two pilasters in stone crowned with basket handle arch and a key hole of carved scrolls.  Father Lacombe said that these houses, such as "La Clé des Champs" were built respecting the space and the precise angles of the roof, giving a harmonious whole.

Next, is the history of Gai Soleil Hotel beginning in 1920 with our grandfather Albert, born in 1871 and grand-son of Pierre-Joseph. Albert was a farmer and a rancher. In summer, he farmed the pastures of the “Bûche-Croisée” and “Roselette”. He also raised and traded livestock. He was quite a modern man and was one of the first people to in Les Contamines-Montjoie to own a car.

Albert recognized that upper valley was becoming more and more of interest to tourists so he built two rooms on the farm to let in summertime. There was never any question though of abandoning the agricultural and pastoral aspect of farm life.