Why invest in Val d'Isère ?

A resort combining sport with Savoie legacy in equal measure

A charming village renowned for its Baroque church, its stone and slate chalets, its authentic shops, its local Savoyard restaurants and the many assets that its slopes have to offer, Val d’Isère is undoubtedly the resort of choice for mountain sports enthusiasts looking for thrills, excitement and an authentic feel.

Located just a few kilometres from the Italian border, it shares the spectacular Espace Killy ski area, stretching from the Pisaillas glacier above the Col de l'Iseran in Val d'Isère to the Grande Motte glacier above Val Claret, with the neighbouring resort of Tignes.

With 60% of its slopes peaking at an altitude of over 2000m, the resort offers guaranteed snow cover right throughout the winter season. Skiing and other winter sports enthusiasts from around the world return in ever greater numbers year after year to enjoy a thoroughly invigorating sporting break at the heart of Val d’Isère. The resort regularly plays host to various elite sporting events, including the celebrated Criterium de la Première Neige, the World Ski Championship trials and the Winter Olympics.

A resort brought to life by sport

All of this makes Val d’Isère the perfect combination of first-rate sports facilities and heritage that has survived the ages while maintaining its unrivalled richness.

The station is brought to life by its intense and eclectic sporting and cultural vibe both summer and winter. The famous Criterium de la Première Neige, a legendary Val d’Isère institution that plays host to a tenacious battle between the best skiers from around the world, marks the start of the resort’s winter season.

The resort also takes its turn hosting the Val d’Isère Winter Golf tournament, the International Adventure and Discovery Film Festival and the High Trail Vanoise, which takes place in the summer amid the lush green mountains and alpine pastures, among other festivities.

A rapidly expanding property market

Val d’Isère has been attracting growing numbers of potential buyers looking to purchase a property for personal use or as a rental investment over the past few years.

The location of the resort offers skiers guaranteed continuous snow cover during the cold season and together with the general dynamism of the village, contributes to its appeal where new buyers are concerned. Public and private investment thrives in the impressive resort of Val d’Isère with the aim of attracting new winter sports lovers to the town.

Recently completed projects include the creation of the new Solaise centre, comprising a gondola lift, moving walkways, ski lifts and novice slopes, in addition to the opening of a new mountain restaurant, L’Etincelle. Over the coming months, the centre of the village will also be undergoing a redevelopment project designed to give both local residents and visiting tourists alike the opportunity to experience the old-world appeal of this charming Savoyard village. Last but not least, a 40-room boutique hotel is also set to open in Solaise.

The 2017 Knight Frank report on the property price index showed a 2.5% increase for Val d’Isère, demonstrating in no uncertain terms the enthusiasm that investors have for this high-altitude Alpine resort where sport and culture exist harmoniously side by side.

Its so-called “valley-bottom” location, just a stone’s throw from the Italian border and close to the Vanoise National Park, means that property development in the area is rather limited, which also helps to push up the prices of the few exceptional properties that do come up for sale.

Investing in a chalet in Savoie or a luxury apartment at the centre of or close to the resort of Val d’Isère is a strategic move now more than ever. The resort’s reputation and the infrequency with which properties become available are enough to guarantee crowds of potential tenants and a capital gain on resale. With no fewer than 1.74 million tourist nights a year and a winter season spanning 23 weeks, you certainly won't have any problems keeping your apartment or chalet occupied during the high season.