Dec 07, 2018 / FRANCE

Courchevel Property Investment Guide

As part of the Les Trois Vallées, Courchevel is part of the largest linked ski destination in the world, which covers more than 600 kilometres of pistes. Courchevel is made up of four sister towns: Courchevel 1300, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1850. Each of these are named after their altitude in metres, and each offers a slightly different Alpine experience.

Courchevel is famed for being the first French resort to be constructed specifically for skiing. Until then, ski resorts in the area were built around existing villages. Because Courchevel is purpose-built, it’s better designed to accommodate for the needs of experts, beginners and families alike – which means there’s always plenty of interest from holidaymakers. To this end, there’s never been a more fruitful time to consider buying a property in Courchevel.

The winter season in Courchevel runs between the middle of December until the end of April. The resort will soon be celebrating 75 years in operation, which is proof positive of its popularity. With chalets and apartments on the market for anything between €675,000 and €5,000,000, there’s plenty of scope for investment in Courchevel.

Living in Courchevel: things to do

Courchevel is home to approximately 2,500 permanent residents, although this increases temporarily during snow season. Each of the villages plays hosts to thousands of holidaymakers and tourists every year, who wish to make most of the tailor-made winter sports facilities and incredible snowy landscapes. However, there’s still plenty to do after the snow subsides; with plenty of walks, hot air balloon rides, micro lighting, canoeing, kayaking, rafting and hang-gliding.

Those looking for slightly more relaxing things to do in Courchevel can try their hand at a nine-hole golf course complete with a 27-day driving range. There are also several art galleries displaying works directly next to certain pistes during winter, which is great news for those who want to take in some culture during their skiing trip.

According to the snow report for Courchevel, the resort receives an average snowfall of 800cm during snow season. This is great news for those who want to enjoy some of the 100 runs in the area, which are serviced by some 52 lifts, many of which have received recent investment and refurbishment. For more resort information and weather reports, take a look at our Courchevel resort guide here.

Courchevel and culture

Despite having been originally built as a dedicated ski resort, Courchevel has become so much more than a base to enjoy winter sports in recent years. Residents live here throughout the year, which means there’s a demand for things to see and do during the warmer months. As well as the art galleries, there’s also a fantastic food culture in the area, with cookery courses regularly run by Michelin-starred chefs.

Investment potential in Courchevel

Courchevel continues to grow in popularity year upon year, and as such is constantly updating its facilities. One of the key areas of investment in Courchevel is property. It’s home to variety of lodges, chalets, apartments and luxury hotels, with many of these being rented out by holidaymakers during the peak winter season, which runs between December and April.

While peak season might be the most lucrative time of year, there can be no accounting for the beauty of Courchevel during the summer months, which means there’s plenty of opportunity for returns even after the snow has melted. There are also opportunities to invest in some of the area’s many culinary and retail outlets.

The fruits of investment are clear to witness across each of the village areas of Courchevel, with state-of-the-art ski lifts, new ski runs, cinemas and indoor climbing walls all having recently opened.

Transport to Courchevel

Getting to the resort is relatively easy. The closest airport to Courchevel is Grenoble international airport which is 110 kilometres away. Geneva international airport in (Switzerland is also just 130 km away, while Lyon international airport is 187km away.

The easiest way to get from any of these airports to the resort is by rail, although it’s worthwhile checking the weather report for Courchevel as blizzards and ice can sometimes cause disruptions and delays.

For those who wish to see more of the surrounding areas during their stay, it may be more worthwhile renting a hire car. The drive from Grenoble to Courchevel takes approximately one hour and 44 minutes and is a relatively straightforward journey. After leaving the airport, drivers need to simply head south-east on Place Victor Hugo and head towards Rue Beranger, before making their way onto the D1090. However, those who wish to drive to Courchevel should be aware that there are a number of toll roads in operation.

With great public transport links, a thriving local community and plenty to see and do, it’s clear to see why buying property in Courchevel is a great investment.