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The French Alps need little introduction. Located in the South East of France and covering an area of 15,000 square miles they are one of the most impressive of the many natural highlights of the country and form just one part of a much larger chain of mountains running through Switzerland and Italy.
We focus our search on what we consider to be the most spectacular department of the Alps - the Haute Savoie.
Home to the Mont Blanc and the winter/summer mountain resorts of Chamonix and Megeve and of the huge interconnected Porte de Soleil ski domain, it also includes the charming lakeside town of Annecy and the renowned spa town of Evian - famous worldwide for its spring and thermal waters.
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Geographically the Haute Savoie is bordered by Lac Léman, and the Swiss canton of Genève to the north, by the Swiss canton of Valais to the east and by Mont Blanc and the Italian border to the southeast.
The landscape is varied and grandiose. The impressively craggy mountain tops and glaciers are covered in snow all year round and the high mountains are covered with wild flowers in the spring and summer. There are clean fast-flowing rivers, streams, mountain lakes and lush valleys. The region has something for everyone in all seasons of the year.
Climatically the area is subject to the vagaries of the high mountains - cold, snowy winters, crisp springs and warm summers. The mountains ensure that the weather changes very rapidly but whenever a high pressure weather front sets in, the skies are a dazzling and constant blue.
Geographically and economically the region is dominated by the mountains. Small towns and villages abound in the valleys and wonderfully picturesque resort towns are the feature at higher altitudes. The resort towns and villages are active in all seasons and are a magnet to both sports and nature enthusiasts.
Agriculturally the region produces cereals and fruit in the valleys and many excellent dairy products as well as good and varied local wines and fiery "digestifs".
Sporting activities abound whether it be one of the multitude of snow sports in the winter, or rafting, canyoning, climbing and hill walking in the milder parts of the year. There are also excellent golf courses and horse riding possibilities.
Properties in the Alps fall mainly into two categories. Modern or ancient chalets and farmhouses and apartments. Chalets are the classic house type in the region and vary in size, quality and above all in location and the surrounding views.
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Chamonix, situated at the foot of the Mont Blanc and surrounded by legendary peaks (l'Aiguille de Midi, l'Aiguille Vert, l'Aiguille d'Argentière, les Grandes Jorasses etc) is sought after for both its unique sporting and scenic qualities. Chamonix can truly be considered to be one of the world's great mountain resorts and naturally quality property is always in demand.
Good size chalets - 4 to 6 bedrooms - with mature gardens of around 1000 m2 start from about 500,000 euros. Those with excellent locations and outstanding views of the surrounding mountains are more expensive and start at about 1,000,000 euros. Smaller individual chalets or semi-detached properties are available from about 350,000 euros.
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Apartments cost less to maintain than a chalet and can often be found in recently renovated older buildings and chalets. Newer, sympathetically constructed, modern buildings are also a source of good-value apartments. Often with excellent views of the mountains and with concierge services they can provide an ideal base for the mountains. 3 to 4 bedroom apartments start at around 300,000 euros and can climb towards 1,000,000 euros for a large apartment with spectacular views. Smaller one and two bed apartments can be found from about 150,000 euros and up, depending on condition and location. |
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As much as Chamonix is renowned for Mont Blanc, the high mountains and "extreme" sports, the neighbouring resort of Megeve is as famous for its "mountain chic" ambiance, its shops, night life and smart clientele as for its sporting and outdoor activities. Highly sought after, the resort has similar property styles, if somewhat higher prices, than those found in Chamonix.
Morzine and the villages of the Porte du Soleil ski area offer similar properties but at somewhat more affordable prices. |
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Villas with swimming pools, chalets and apartments can be found in and around the lakeside towns of Annecy and Evian at considerably cheaper prices than in the high mountain resorts and sizeable properties with large gardens can be found from 300,000 to 500,000 Euros.
The region is easily accessible by road and rail (TGV), and the International airport at Geneva, now serviced by the budget airlines, is only an hour's drive from Chamonix, Megeve or Morzine.
There is a strong demand for properties in the Alps, and Haute Savoie in particular, from both domestic and international buyers. As there are only ever a limited number of quality properties in good settings available properties do not remain on the market for very long and prices are likely to remain buoyant. |
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