A sporting summer in the mountains
The year-round French and Swiss resorts where the summers prove equally enticing as the winters
For homes that offer year-round holiday potential, Alpine resorts in France and Switzerland are top of the list. Choose a location with care and you’ll have an action-packed base for winter snow and summer sunshine, somewhere with appeal across all the generations and one that should offer dual-season rental returns and prove a wise long-term investment.
“Over the last 20 years, there has been a noticeable shift in what attracts visitors and homeowners to the Alps,” says Laetitia Hodson, Partner in International Residential at Knight Frank. “What was once a total focus on winter sports has become much more about year-round appeal. Look at Chamonix for example where tourism figures show that even more visitors come in summer than winter. The best resorts have been remarkably far sighted, not only investing in and upgrading the infrastructure but also working hard to bring a variety of sports and cultural events.”
Hodson points to events that include UTMB, the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc race based around Chamonix which attracts thousands of runners, and the Harley Days in Morzine as well as cultural and musical events in Megève. These resorts offer a long list of summer sports for adrenaline seekers - rock climbing and trail running through to hiking and paragliding – while active families can enjoy picnics in Alpine meadows, mountain walking accessed through ski lifts that run in the summer months and paddleboarding or swimming in high altitude lakes. The Alpine appeal is clear.
“Today, I have many more clients looking in the Alps in summer than ever before and they often tell me that the cooler temperatures and the wonderful range of activities are their chief reasons for choosing the mountains over traditional Mediterranean summer locations,” says Hodson. “We believe the future lies in resorts with summer options to match their winter activities because they appeal to a wider, multi-generational clientele. As one client told me this week, he bought his property in the Alps for the winter skiing, but he keeps it for the summer fun.”
The French Alps
For French Alpine resorts with full summer action, Hodson recommends looking at Chamonix, Megève and Morzine.
“In all three resorts the local authorities have invested heavily,” she says. “All along the Chamonix Valley the transport options are excellent while in Morzine, the hard work of the Mairie has brought the Tour de France to the village twice in recent years. For residents and visitors, it provides a superb spectacle and puts Chamonix on the world stage.”
In Chamonix, a six-bedroom chalet in the Les Bois neighbourhood in generous gardens and with the possibility to add a guest house is for sale at €4,680,000. A newer and very private chalet close to Morzine in Montriond, also with a traditional design including five bedrooms, sauna and gardens, is €3,350,000. Montriond is a short riverside walk from Morzine and close to a beautiful lake. Close to the centre of Morzine with views over Montriond, a recently renovated chalet with seven bedrooms is €1,375,000 while in Megève, a three-bedroom wooden chalet is €920,000.
“Property prices in these resorts are, in general, below those in the ultra-high ski and star-studded French resorts like Courchevel 1850, providing interesting value for purchasers and more attractive rental yields,” says Hodson. “Some serious skiers will only consider the highest resorts but these three resorts, along with all Les Gets and the Portes du Soleil, are closer to Geneva, more accessible for weekend trips and offer a secure 6-8 week rental in the summer months.”
Consider also Courchevel Le Praz in the Vanoise National Park, a beautiful, traditional village, the lowest of the mighty Courchevel resorts and a summer hotspot for family fun. Take the complimentary local bus service up to Aquamotion swimming pool, spa and climbing wall, enjoy the Lac de Praz, either for swimming or walking and sample the local restaurants, including one with a Michelin star.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, dual season resorts of note include St Moritz, Crans Montana and Verbier says Alex Koch de Gooreynd, partner in Knight Frank’s International Residential Team, all proper mountain villages with a stable population, year-round life and an excellent schedule of events.
“The Verbier Festival is a leading annual classical music event that brings established international stars and aspiring artists while Crans Montana is buzzy year round with a calendar of international golf and cycling competitions and cultural events. St Moritz’s lake, proximity to several golf courses and its many level walking trails are well used in the summer months. The range and variety of these activities give clients the confidence that they will get use of their Alpine home year round.”
Cycling is a favourite activity across the resorts. Koch de Gooreynd points to the “epic” mountain passes of Gotthard and Furka close to the resort of Andermatt where a total of eight mountain passes provide challenging runs and supreme Alpine beauty. “More and more resorts are establishing a solid infrastructure around mountain biking and both on and off road cycling, something many clients enjoy enormously in summer,” he says.
Andermatt joins Crans Montana in resorts that Koch de Gooreynd tips for investors to consider. “New opportunities are coming up in Andermatt and the fact that property is free of all Lex Koller restrictions, allowing second-home buyers to purchase freely, sends a strong message to investors,” he says. “Andermatt is only 90 minutes from Zurich airport and since Vail Resorts bought a majority share in the resort in 2022, serious investment has continued. Last year, Vail Resorts acquired a majority interest in Crans Montana as well. Property in Crans Montana is around 40% better value than the most exclusive resorts such as Verbier and Gstaad and general living costs are much lower too.”
A handsome wooden four-bedroom chalet in Crans Montana, for sale at CHF 2,550,000 is typical of the charming style available in the resort. A new development of 24 apartments on a sunny plateau, linked undercover to a hotel with communal spa and wellness services, has two and three bedroom homes from CHF 950,000.
In St Moritz, where the traditional Alpine wooden style chalets give way to a mix of solid stone and contemporary homes, a modern chalet with seven bedrooms is an example of the properties available.
“Verbier is truly year round and one reason for that is because of the two highly regarded international schools there,” says Koch de Gooreynd. “Students come from across the globe and that keeps the resort buzzy and adds a special atmosphere.”
A centrally located five-bedroom chalet in Verbier in a quiet and private plot is for sale at CHF 6,800,000.
“As temperatures build up every year in traditional summer beach locations, the refreshing clean mountain air grows ever more appealing,” says Koch de Gooreynd. “As a year-round holiday home to enjoy for winter skiing and for summer hiking and biking, the Alps are simply unbeatable.”
Discover our European second homes for sale. Get in touch with Alex Koch de Gooreynd and Laetitia Hodson.
