My first visit to Chamonix took place in 2013 when we were staying in the nearby resort of St-Gervais Les-Bains. Our three-year-old twin boys were learning to ski and, as Chamonix was only 20 minutes’ drive, my French husband Frederic suggested we go there for an afternoon visit.
Little did I know that this would be the start of my love affair with Chamonix. Driving into the town, as the valley narrows, you suddenly become very aware of how close the slopes are on both sides, so you really get the feeling that you are in the mountains.
Beyond every street view in Chamonix, Mont Blanc and the other Alpine peaks are staring down at you. Chamonix is unlike other ski resorts in that the town was there long before the skiers arrived, so it’s not a typical ski-in ski-out purpose-built ski resort. It has an incredible history and was the first place to host the Winter Olympics back in 1924.
UNIQUE LOCATION
Deciding there and then that we would return the next year to stay in Chamonix, thus began annual trips for us as a family. Over the last seven years our boys have continued to learn to ski there and in the summer they join us on some truly incredible hikes.
Realizing in 2015 that just visiting wasn’t enough, I started to look around for a place which we could buy, so we as a family could go there whenever we wanted to.
Location was key. We wanted to be both close to the ski slopes and also within walking distance of the town centre. Le Brévent, with its unique location, was perfect for us. Knowing where we wanted to buy made it both easy and difficult – easy in that I could rule out so many other properties, but difficult in that apartments where we wanted to buy rarely came up for sale.
Bu hikaye French Property News dergisinin April 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye French Property News dergisinin April 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Bond With France
With a licence to thrill James Bond fans, Chloe Govan goes househunting in the film locations immortalised by the spy who loved France
Sarlat stardust
Just 20 minutes from Sarlat-la-Caneda, this tastefully restored home reflects the glory of the Périgord Noir capital, says Ruth Wood
The money column
The ‘B’ word is back! Laura Parsons explains how to protect your money as we near the end of Brexit transition
Nature's harmony
A renovated farmhouse in Lot-et-Garonne could be perfect for those hearing the call of the wild, discovers Brigitte Nicolas
Main event
Buying a holiday home near a popular annual event could guarantee you a beautiful setting and some extra cash, finds Hannah Evans
Hauss style
Joanna Leggett learns all about Georges-Eugène Haussmann – the man who designed the Paris that we know and love
Architect's diary
It’s all in a week’s work for France-based Neil Vesma
Write on the edge
When it comes to life in west Brittany, author Wendy Mewes has been there, done that, written the guidebook
A year like no other
So much for spring cleaning — property manager Mary Hall explains how 2020 has thrown a spanner in the works for second home owners
A law unto themselves
Why is French law so different to the law in England and Wales? It all goes back to William, Henry and Napoleon, explains Alan Field