 The French Alps are known throughout the world for their serene beauty and extensive world-class skiing facilities. If you're into winter sports or you're looking for French property with sound investment potential, then buying property in the French Alps should merit serious consideration.
Six departments across two regions in France lay claim to having some of the French Alps within their boundaries. In the North, you can stand on the shores of Lake Geneva in the Haute Savoie - the most northerly department in the Rhone Alpes region - and see the alpine foothills climb up to the south. The mountains here rise up very quickly gaining tremendous height towards the Swiss and Italian border. Mont Blanc - the highest mountain in Western Europe - is situated close by on the border with Italy, and is only some 45 miles away from Lake Geneva and the lakeside town of Evian les Bains. In the shadow of Mont Blanc are the famous ski resorts of Chamonix and Megeve, both of which offer French Alps property for sale in the form of chalets and apartments.
Further to the south of Mont Blanc is the department of Savoie, which takes in the Parc National de la Vanoise and the famous ski resort of Val d'Isere. Val D'Isere regularly hosts world cup skiing events and is built around the original village that dates back many centuries. There are always new opportunities to own French Alps property in the village of Val D'Isere itself, including some French property classified as leaseback by the French Government. Beyond Savoie, the French Alps exit the Rhone Alpes region via the department of Isere where the town of Grenoble offers access to the lower routes around the French Alps.
Provence is the second region in which the French Alps are found. The Alpine mountains here become gradually lower in height as they curve through the Eastern Provence towards Nice and Monaco, spilling over into Italy's Liguria Peninsula. The French Alps in Provence are home to some of the lesser-known and so quieter ski resorts. Quality skiing can still be had in this area, and the price of French Alps property is a little lower too in this region. A 3-bed chalet / villa in France in the village of St Crepin for instance was recently on the market for just under 260,000 euros. But, in Val D'Isere a similar property is likely to cost 750,000 euros or more!
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