We are Valeria and Tim. Valeria from Sicily, Tim from England, we met and married last century! The story of Hilltop Chartreuse begins over twenty years ago, when we left our life in the UK at the time to build new lives in France.
We arrived as strangers to the language, culture and landscape, bound by the shared challenges we soon discovered that on moving to the Grenoble area of France and to the Chartreuse National Park, that the rugged beauty of the French countryside felt like “home” and we decided to make our life here.
After two decades of navigating the world through linguistics, translation, and teaching, Valeria felt the call for a different rhythm of life, a desire to build something tangible. It was at this moment that Hilltop became available. We had already asked a couple of times if the cabin was for sale only to be rebutted, but then the impossible happened, finally the owner said it was time for him to move on to a new chapter. This gave us the opportunity we had been waiting for, a neglected A-frame on 2000 m² of land, a relic of the 60’s waiting for a second act.
Starting in 2026, we are bringing to life a unique, modern vacation retreat designed to blend seamlessly into the alpine forest. Our vision is a space where contemporary design—represented by our signature A-frame architecture—meets the raw, peaceful energy of the mountains.
While the foundation is being poured and the timber frames are raised over the next year, we invite you to join our journey. We aren’t just building a house; we are building a home for our family and our beloved animals.
What to expect from our journey:
Weekly Construction Updates: See how a modern alpine retreat is built from the ground up.
Life in the Alps: A behind-the-scenes look at our daily life in the Chartreuse.
Our Furry Neighbors: Frequent appearances from our animals who share this beautiful landscape with us.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the finished Hilltop Chartreuse in 2027. Until then, follow along as we turn this dream into a reality.
©2026, Hilltop Chartreuse. All Rights Reserved.
