La Bergerie de Plan Praz, Chamonix, Haute Savoie

Now this was a dinner with a difference! A dinner Spectacular! La Bergerie Restaurant is situated at 2000m this is at the mid station of Plan Praz accessed from the Brevent telecabine in Chamonix. La Bergerie run special events during the summer and this was a really great experience.

A medieval-style dinner and an amazing birds of prey show.  The views from the restaurant terrace are absolutely amazing – the Mont Blanc panorama, Aiguille Vert and breathtaking views
down into the Chamonix valley.

This was a very well organised evening, from the moment we congregated in the parking area at the telecabine, we were met with a beautiful falcon putting on a display and helpful staff.  We ascended to La Bergerie at 6:30pm in our own private telecbabine, leaving the town of Chamonix and the valley far below. We walked onto the terrace of La Bergerie to be offered an aperitif maison served by medieval-clad waiters and waitresses who also served tasty canapés including an aubergine crumble, tapenade, Beaufort puff pastry straws, and various local Savoyard saucisson, rillette and terrine.  Looking at the stunning vista before and below us as the sun was beginning to set, was rather magical.

On the particular day I went up there, it was a little overcast with many clouds, but we got a peek at the sun setting over the Aiguille Vert, although sadly Mont Blanc didn’t make an appearance that evening – however I can assure you it didn’t lessen the wonderful experience of this great evening at all. Just means I have to go again sometime!!

Before dinner was served, we enjoyed the first part of the Birds of Prey educational and interactive show, this was followed by a wonderful pumpkin, wild mushroom and nettle soup that we
were served in a medieval type tin cup as we entered the restaurant, where the tables were all decorated in a Savoyard/medieval theme and adorned with earthenware jugs of wine and fresh bread. The Birds keepers came into the restaurant and put on a small show with the birds low flying over us and at times, just grazing the tops of our heads!

The main course was braised ham with a spiced red wine sauce, potatoes confit and a sauté of traditional vegetables (of yesteryear!).  By this time it was dark and we went outside again to learn about nocturnal birds and see a beautiful eagle owl in flight.

Back to the table to enjoy a great Savoyard speciality – a gateau de Savoie with  blueberries (myrtilles) this was followed by coffee and the statutory digestif Genépi!  The atmosphere of the evening was convivial, fun and found us conversing with strangers and meeting new friends, as well as being slightly in awe of these magnificent birds, who we now all felt we knew a little better.  We were certainly full of good food, wine and génépi by the time we left! We then made our way back to the telecabine around 10:15pm and were wooshed down in the dark watching the twinkling lights of Chamonix below us.

As it is the end of the summer now you’ll have to wait until next year to try this, but mark your calendar for this ‘must do’ event for summer 2015 I don’t think you will be disappointed (unless you don’t like heights or birds!)  I believe the restaurant organises jazz lunches during the summer too and on a clear day the view from their terrace would be hard to beat, La Bergerie is also available for your own private party! – check out their website for details – La Bergerie de Plan Praz

I booked and enjoyed this evening at my own expense and this is my opinion of my personal experience at La Bergerie de Plan Praz, Chamonix

These beautiful birds came from The Parc Les Aigles du Leman and you can learn more about them from their website: Les Aigles du Leman

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All photos ©Copyright Caro Blackwell

To give you more of an idea, here is a video of the dinner spectacular produced by Les Aigles du Leman: