Famous for chic ski resorts, majestic mountains and picture-perfect lakes, the French Alps certainly have star appeal. Annaliza Davis explains how it’s still possible to buy your own slice of Alpine paradise in south-east France
As Europe’s largest mountain range, the Alps stretches from the Mediterranean right across to Austria and Slovenia. Within France alone, it spreads across five departments including Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Savoie (73) and Haute-Savoie (74).
The Alps are rightfully famous for their highly prized ski resorts including Chamonix, Courchevel, Valmorel, Val Thorens and Val d’Isère, but thanks to the thriving towns, freshwater lakes, beautiful Alpine villages and spa resorts, tourists come all year round, which is a distinct advantage compared to other tourism destinations. Annecy, Aix-Les-Bains, Evian-Les-Bains and Grenoble don’t need any snow to draw in the visitors, who come every spring and summer to walk the mountain trails and explore the national parklands here.
This part of France certainly feels the influence of nearby Switzerland and Italy, which is evident in the food and the architecture: wooden chalets with decorative carvings, as well as slick modern apartment complexes. While the smaller, more remote villages continue the traditional way of life, larger resorts are more cosmopolitan and multilingual, residents often speaking English to any non-local, which can certainly simplify property-hunting.
As you might expect, there are million-dollar hotspots in the Alps, but there are lessfamous areas that will allow you to get more square metres for your money. As always, it’s all about location!
MATCH THE PLACE TO YOUR POCKET
In France, the national average price for property sits at €2,749/m2and properties in the French Alps cost an average of €3,549/m 2, but this figure ranges from €1,169/m 2 in La Bréole to an impressive €10,718/m2near Mont Blanc.
Unsurprisingly, the big ski resorts like Chamonix and Les Gets will fetch the biggest prices, as will any location close to ski lifts or within easy reach of Geneva. Some properties are worth the higher prices they command, though: Chamonix welcomes more visitors during the summer than in winter, so if you’re planning to rent out, your returns will be high.
You can still find good value
