BUYING PROPERTY IN COURCHEVEL, FRANCE

The St Tropez of the French Alps, Courchevel is the ski domain of European royalty and the wealthy elite. The glamorous side of the Three Valleys, France’s largest ski area, the resort’s Parisian vibe is a sharp contrast to the English-dominated Meribel. Property prices, which have risen steeply over the last few years, have recently slowed down. For the first time in many years, a few bargains have appeared on the market and it is possible to buy a chalet property for under €10 million.

Courchevel Property
High-quality luxury chalets in Courchevel 1850 are some of the most sought-after property in the Alps and many offer ski-in/ski-out access. Properties in the exclusive Jardin Alpin and Belvedere sectors and up towards the Altiport. Though Courchevel 1850 is some distance from an international airport – 2.5 hours from both Geneva and Lyon – private plane owners can land at the small altiport.

Both Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1550 are undergoing a period of aesthetic redevelopment. Neither resorts are as showy as Courchevel 1850 nor as expensive; instead, the villages appeal to families looking for a second home in the snow where there is easy access to the ski pistes and good off-slope facilities.

Courchevel 1300, or Le Praz, is the original Courchevel village; its farming heritage is apparent in the attractive stone buildings at the heart of the village. Newer properties are built with wood rather than stone and Le Praz has one of the first eco developments in the Alps.

The small resort of La Tania also falls under the umbrella of ‘Courchevel’. Built for the Albertville Winter Olympics, it is a pretty enclave of wooden chalet buildings set among the pine forests. Nearly all property offers ski-in/ski-out accessibility.

Courchevel Appeal
Courchevel aims to please its demanding clientele with well-groomed corduroy pistes and Michelin starred restaurants. The immediate ski area offers a varied range of terrain from gentle runs for beginners to racing black pistes for more experienced skiers; with further kilometres of piste over the ridgeline. The Courchevel couloirs are a well known test for experts. Mountain lunches are an art form in Courchevel: seafood and champagne at the Cap Horn; landings and takeoffs at the Altiport; and sheepskin-rugs at the Bergerie. Back down in 1850, both Le Bateau Ivre and the Chabichou have Michelin stars, while the other choices range from sushi to Grand Marnier crepes.

Lower down the valley Le Praz is a cluster of excellent restaurants: Le Bistrot for traditional French cuisine, several choices of foie gras and a good wine cellar, Ya Ca for candle-lit intimacy and La Table de Mon Grand Pere for fresh regional cuisine. Les Caves in 1850 is still the number one late night venue.