A chalet in the Alps or a villa in the Cote d’Azur?
That is the dilemma some of our clients face as they struggle to decide what their priorities are for a second home in France. It would, in an ideal world, be amazing to acquire both but budgetary constraints, understandably, often limit them to one or the other.
Is that choice as binary as it first appears?
The answer is : No.
If you, your family and friends are all hardcore skiers who usually spend 3/4 weeks or many long weekends in the Alps each season then a chalet purchase is probably the correct decision. Given most ski stations now offer well organised summer activities such a purchase is not as one-dimensional as it used to be and can offer many more weeks of potential usage.
If however, you only ski one week a year with your family then a villa in the Cote d’Azur is probably going to make more sense as you will be able to have much more use of the property over the course of a year.
Yes, but what about the skiing? Surely, I don’t need to pack my boots and skis if I’m flying to Nice?
Yes, you do!
There are ski resorts only a stone’s throw from your south of France villa adding a whole new dimension to ownership. While it is no secret, it does come as a surprise to many would be purchasers who might have been unaware of this fantastic added bonus.
The really good news is that there is a wonderful choice of ski stations only 90 minutes’ drive from the coast. They all have good facilities, suit a wide range of abilities with most retaining an old-school charm that is absent in many central Alps resorts.
Here is a brief overview of the best.
Limone Piemonte – Riserva Bianca
Only 95 km away from Monaco and just over the Italian border, Limone Piemonte merits special attention for its slopes and its wonderful Italian cuisine. The ski area is very close to the French border and it is only about a one and a half hour drive from the coast.
At a height of 2,400 m, Limone is a beautiful Alpine town with a twelfth century church at its centre and is one of the oldest ski resorts in Italy. Today, the resort features more than 40 slopes with a total length of 80 km. There are 7 blacks, 23 reds and 10 blue/greens. Experienced skiers will enjoy the black slopes which have also been used as training sites for the both the Italian and French national teams.
Isola 2000
Less than a two-hour drive from the coast, Isola 2000 is one of the most well known
purpose built ski resorts in the Southern Alps. Sadly, it is not the prettiest and trades
charm for practicality! It is a venue for major competitions, including the French Ski
Cup and the Tour de France.
Both sunshine and snowfall are guaranteed by the resort, which has held the French snowfall record on several occasions. Due to the high altitude (the summit is above 2500 metres), most of the terrain is above the tree line, on sunny slopes. Isola 2000 offers pistes for most abilities. With a total of 43, the resort includes 4 blacks, 11 reds, 21 blues and 7 greens. Beginners benefit from an excellent gentle plateau that stretches for almost five kilometres (three miles) alongside the main resort complex.
Auron
Auron is located close to Isola 2000 in the Mercantour national park. Its summit is just below 2500 metres, with the number of its tracks no less impressive compared to its neighbouring resort. Auron offers its visitors 43 ski slopes, divided into 4 zones with pistes that include 9 blacks, 15 reds, 16 blues and 3 greens. Auron is not only a ski resort, it is also a fantastic place to have a night out with plentiful bars, restaurants and spas.
Valberg
This friendly and authentic resort is only an hour and half drive from coast, passing through the beautiful Gorges of Cians or Daluis. It is one of the most popular family resorts in the Southern Alps and is an ideal place for children to learn to ski. There is plenty of skiing for the more experienced skier while the children are at ski school! Delightful scenery and a charming village set the scene. At an altitude of 2,066 m, the resort has 54 slopes of varying difficulty, including 6 blacks, 24 reds, 13 blues and 11 greens.
Gréolières
And finally, less than 35 miles (55 kms) from Valbonne, (the heart of the Côte d’Azur arrière-pays) is Gréolières-les-Neiges, an unassuming but charming family resort – a great favourite of the Niçois. There are about 19 kms of runs, between 1400 and 1800 m above sea level. Not for those with Olympic aspirations, but ideal for a day out on the slopes with the children and back down to the coast for an apéritif by the sea as the sun goes down.