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A guide to French ski resorts
The French Alps are a popular choice for foreign property investors. There is continued high demand for winter chalets in well-known ski resorts such as Courchevel and Val d'Isère and buyers are beginning to look for opportunities in lesser-known resorts such as La Rosière and Sainte Foy.
Savoie
Courchevel
The four Courchevel villages - 1850, 1650, 1550
and Le Praz - have different personalities and
property opportunities. 1850 is the best known
world-wide and is visited by skiers for its luxury
hotels, shopping and nightlife. All four villages
are ski in/ski out and link into Les Trois Vallées,
France's largest ski area.
Properties in Courchevel: Courchevel 1850
is the property hotspot of the French Alps. Chalets
are snapped up as soon as they come onto the market
and are rarely advertised through traditional
channels. La Tania, a young and attractive purpose-built
ski resort a few minutes drive from Courchevel
Le Praz, is another option.
Méribel
Méribel is the quintessential chalet ski
resort located in the middle of the Trois Vallées
ski area. More popular as a winter destination,
the ski resort gives easy access to the ski pistes
above Courchevel and Val Thorens. It is a top
choice for British skiers looking for varied skiing
and a lively mountain village.
Properties in Méribel: All properties
in Méribel are tastefully built from local
materials of wood, slate and stone due to strict
building regulations. Chalets in Méribel
Centre and along the nearby ski pistes sell quickly.
There is often greater availability in the lower-lying
villages of Méribel Les Allues, Méribel
Village and Chandon.
Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère's combination of excellent
skiing, luxury hotels, good restaurants and lively
nightlife has confirmed its status as the most
popular destination for British skiers and snowboarders.
The ski pistes link to Tignes, the other ski resort
in the Espace Killy ski area
Properties in Val d'Isère: Val d'Isère
is one of the most popular French ski resorts
for foreign property buyers. Chalet prices have
almost doubled in the last 5 years and are similar
per m2 as property prices in London. Some buyers
prefer the quieter charms of Sainte Foy a 30 minute
drive down the hill towards Bourg St Maurice.
Haute Savoie
Megève
Both skiers and non-skiers enjoy the pretty streets
of the chic ski village of Megève. Renowned
for its luxury hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants
and high quality shops it is just 1 hour's drive
from Geneva airport - the ski resort of Chamonix
is also only 30 minutes away by road.
Properties in Megève: Prices in
this popular French ski resort are high - most
residential properties are built from wood and
stone in the charming Savoyard style and start
at €1 million for a chalet in the centre.
There is better, cheaper availability in the nearby
ski resorts of Combloux, Les Contamines and St
Gervais.
Chamonix
The ski Mecca of the French Alps, Chamonix appeals
to property buyers looking for extreme slopes
and powder snow. The valley-floor town bustles
year-round - with skiers in the winter and climbers
and golfers in the summer - and lies within an
hour's motorway drive of Geneva airport.
Properties in Chamonix: Ski chalets in
the Montblanc region are expensive. Real estate
prices in the centre of Chamonix are comparable
to the London property market, with lower prices
in the outlying villages of Le Praz, Les Bossons,
Argentière and Les Houches. Opportunities
range from renovations of old farm buildings to
new upmarket developments.
Les Gets
A charming farming village in the Portes du Soleil
ski area Les Gets is less than 1 hour from Geneva
airport. An ideal choice for families it is best
suited to beginners and intermediate skiers. It
also has a thriving summer season and is a popular
destination for mountain bikers and walkers.
Properties in Les Gets: The majority of
properties for sale in Les Gets are winter chalets
built in the traditional style of the Haute Savoie.
Les Gets is smaller than nearby Morzine and most
chalets and apartments are well located for the
village centre and the ski slopes.
Morzine
The best known of the ski resorts in the Portes
du Soleil ski area, Morzine is a fun and lively
village for skiers during the winter and mountain
bikers in the summer months. The ski lifts from
the village link into the ski hills above Les
Gets and the higher altitude resort of Avoriaz.
Properties in Morzine: Older properties
in Morzine and the surrounding satellite villages
of Montriond, Prodains and Nyon are built from
local stone, while new chalet builds are typically
wooden. Prices vary greatly depending upon closeness
to Morzine village centre and to the base-station
ski lifts up to the skiing in the Portes du Solei.
Don't hesitate to contact us If you would like to know more about a particular French ski resort, or visit ultimate-ski.com for ski resort and ski area information.