French Alps Property
Buying advice for French property in the French Alps
The French Alps have some of the most extensive and finest skiing in the world and are home to some of the most fashionable resorts.
Interest in purchasing property here has grown enormously and values have risen, with prices in the top resorts at similar levels to those in the most expensive parts of the Côte d’Azur.
The key areas of the French Alps are the Trois Vallées including the perenially popular Courchevel and Meribel, the upper Tarentaise valley with Val d’Isère at its epicentre, and the Chamonix valley and environs taking in fashionable resorts such as Megève.
Prices are generally influenced by the height of resort, access to ski lifts and village centres, and “fashion”. A more recent consideration for some buyers is the suitability of a property for use in the summer which makes resorts such as Chamonix increasingly popular as there are plenty of “summer activities” available.
With building land tightly restricted in most of the Alps, good quality, well-located ski properties remain in constant demand.
Chamonix:
Having hosted the first Winter olympics in 1924, Chamonix was the height of fashion in the pre–war years. Its post-war history was less glamourous and it began a steady decline during the sixties and seventies when it catered to ‘economy’ skiing while other resorts gradually increased in popularity. However, the last ten to fifteen years has seen a renaissance in fortunes for Chamonix. Its accessibility to Geneva, its attractions in both summer and winter seasons, and a concerted effort to improve the quality of chalets and apartments, have led to an influx of investors in recent years. The prime areas are Les Bois and Les Tines which offer the best compromise of views, access to slopes and access to Chamonix town centre.
The skiing is of exceptional quality with plenty of variety for all levels of ability. However, ski-in-ski-out fans will be disappointed as a car or use of the excellent ski buses is more or less essential.
Megève:
Megéve has always been noted for its fashionable status which started in 1921, when the mother of the Baron Edmond de Rothschild opened the first major hotel at the bottom of Mont d’Arbois. This status continues to this day. A short walk through the main shopping streets of Megève is like walking down Avenue Montaigne in Paris.
The skiing is more for the ‘leisure and lunch’ skier rather than the ‘hardcore’ off-piste fraternity.
The quality of hotels, restaurants and shops match its reputation. It also benefits from being no more than a one hour drive to Geneva which makes weekend skiing possible for UK residents.
Les Trois Vallées
Courchevel:
Courchevel is not one village but several; however, the most famous and indeed fashionable is Courchevel 1850. This is without doubt the place to see and be seen - like St Tropez transported to the French Alps. The skiing is excellent with some of the most challenging ‘couloirs’ in the Alps. It is linked with the rest of the Trois Vallées giving almost unlimited skiing for all standards.
The night life is just as ‘racy’ with plenty of restaurants and clubs to satisfy the most ardent advocates of après ski.
Prime properties and hotels are located in the Jardin Alpin area giving easy access to both the town centre and the ski lifts.
Meribel:
Courchevel’s English neighbour - the village was created after the war by an Englishman, Peter Lindsay, who was keen to keep the local Savoyard look and feel in what was one of the first purpose-built ski resorts. This has largely been achieved and Meribel is considerably more attractive than most of its neighbours.
It has been very popular with the English; indeed, it is rumoured that 70% of the property is in English ownership. There is a good mix of chalets and apartments; the skiing extensive being in the middle of the Trois Vallées region; the restaurants, pubs and clubs match the resort’s popularity.
Tarentaise Valley
Val d’Isere:
At the very top end of the Tarentaise Valley, Val d’Isere is somewhat of a spiritual home to skiiers more interested in skiing than being ‘seen’. Although the accent is the ski-ing, it also has a good après-ski scene. Above Val d’Isere and Tignes, the Espace Killy is one of Europe’s foremost ski areas and host to the 2009 World Championships.
Like many resorts, much of its development took place during the sixties and seventies which was not particularly sensitive to local architecture. This has now changed and many new and refurbished buildings have traditional stone roofs.
The majority of property in the town centre are apartments with a few quality chalets. The small hamlet of Le Fornet has been ‘redeveloped’ and offers more traditional-style chalets.
For more information on buying advice and property searching in France, contact the Property Vision France, property search and advice team.