Property in The Alps France

The Alps, with tall, rocky mountains, deep snow and great skiing are Europe’s holiday wonderland. While most people see these mountains as a winter playland, there is plenty to keep outdoor lovers happy in the warmer weather as well. The French Alps are an outdoor lover’s dream, with skiing, skating, rock climbing, hiking and cycling all popular activities year round.

The Alps are located in the southeast part of France and are situated in two administrative regions of the country. These mountains are located primarily in the eastern part of the Rhone-Alpes region with and stretch into the northeast part of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region. The mountains come nearly to the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, so some areas that might actually be in the mountains are often considered to be part of the coastal region.

Italy and Switzerland border the French Alps to the east and north, the Rhone Valley is to the west and in the south lies the Mediterranean. Lake Geneva touches the border at one point, and the highest point in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, sits on the border between France and Italy. There is plenty of snow in  the winter, and summer days can be quite warm as well, making for ideal outdoor adventures.

There are several cities in the French Alps and even more just outside the region. Grenoble is the major city in the French Alps, and other notable towns include Annecy, Chambery and Albertville. Just to the south of the region are the coastal cities of Marseilles, Nice and the Monaco. Geneva is just over the border in Switzerland and Turin, or Torino, is nearby in Italy.

This area has seen numerous Winter Olympic Games, including the first in 1924, hosted by Chamonix on the slopes of Mont Blanc. The 1968 games were held in Grenoble and the 1992 games were hosted by Albertville. Grenoble is on the western edge of the Alps and is the largest city on the French side of the Alps with over 500,000 residents in its metro area. It is located at along the Isere River, which feeds into the Rhone. For many years it was the center for mining and industrial activities in and near the mountains.

The heavy industry and mining activity has mostly faded away and now the city serves as the primary gateway to the French Alps. There are 20 ski stations around the city, and in the summer the Tour de France often runs through town or nearby. Tourism is the major economic driver for the city and area, but there are other activities that are important. Grenoble is a large university town and is now a major scientific center for the region and France. It is now one of the primary high-tech centers in the country.

Most of the other cities in the Alps revolve around tourism, with skiing and winter sports being the main focus. Annecy is 22 miles south of Geneva and is becoming known for its engineering sector. The University of the Savoy has branches in Annecy and Chambery. Val d’Isere, Courcheval and Tignes are some of the more well-known ski towns in the Alps. One smaller ski area, Alpe d’Hueze has become known for its mountaintop finishes in the Tour de France.

There are many options for travelers who want to journey to the Alps. The TGV has a main line that runs from Paris through Lyon, and also one to Geneva. There is a TGV line to Grenoble and regional train service to all the major cities in the region. Grenoble-Isere Airport (GNB) has direct service to and from London, Paris and other major European cities, with increased service during the winter months. There are also major airports nearby outside of Lyon and in Geneva, Switzerland just over the border.

There is a wide variety of housing in the region and priced for all budgets and needs. There are numerous apartments for those who want a reasonably priced vacation spot, and these are available in existing buildings as well as new developments going up. Leasebacks are becoming a popular option for those who want to spend some time here, and have the apartment rented out the rest of the year. For those who are looking for more, there are plenty of townhomes, chalets, and houses in the region as well. These are in the cities and towns, as well as out in the country, so it is easy to find the perfect home for vacationing and working in this area.