The hospitable area called the Alps is the ideal place to relax at any time of the year. They give their temporary and permanent residents the whole palette of positive moods. This is an unforgettable feeling of freedom during the fast skiing and a breathtaking flight over the mountains on a hang glider; it is a refreshing exhilaration of horse riding, cycling and hiking, a frost-searing alpine beach in winter and a pastoral idyll of alpine meadows in summer. All this causes unrelenting interest in the Alpine countries as a destination for buying real estate. Due to the fact that there are opportunities for a varied vacation here all year round, property owners can either constantly use their property, or by renting it out, provide themselves with a stable and guaranteed income. Although the state borders between the Alpine countries have long become a convention, getting, for example, in the mountainous part of France or Austria, Germany or Switzerland, you invariably feel the unique flavor of each country and people. Switzerland. Changing skis for an alpenstock The Swiss canton of Valais is rightfully called a region of superlatives. The highest peaks in the country and the largest glaciers are located here, and the number of four-thousanders is generally measured in dozens. The resort town of Zermatt, located at an altitude of 1620 m at the foot of the Matterhorn (4478 m), is considered a Mecca for advanced skiers. However, in summer it is by no means empty and attracts those who like to wander in the mountains with an alpenstock, because several hiking routes of varying degrees of difficulty start from here, their total length exceeds 400 km. Some of them are devoted to acquaintance with the diverse flora of alpine meadows - more than 1000 species of plants frame five mountain lakes with cool azure water. The resort of Verbier, adjacent to the Aletsch glacier, the largest in Central Europe, is considered one of the largest and most attractive skiing regions in winter. In the summer, it was chosen by adherents of extreme descents on mountain bikes. Among other opportunities for active recreation are the so-called "Adventure Parks", which can only be moved by cable cars, bungee jumping or lianas flights - all of this has recently been called bangi jumping. One of these parks - Medran Park - is located in Verbier. Golf lovers will not be bored in Switzerland either. At an altitude of 1,500 meters in the vicinity of Crans-Montana, there are four 18-hole courses and five 9-hole courses, which are considered among the best in Europe. Their green lawns offer magnificent views of the Matterhorn, Grand Combin and Mont Blanc. It is here that the famous annual Omega European Masters golf tournament takes place in September. Houses in these paradises are expensive and are considered to be quite exclusive. It makes sense to invest in such real estate with a view to the long term, since it rises in price rather slowly, but it is stable, as the popularity of these resort places is stable. The so-called Ferienhaus class - holiday accommodation - includes chalets with 2 to 4 floors, in which individual apartments are sold. For example, in the town of Nendaz, located 40 km from Crans-Montana, apartments in a newly built house cost from 3800 to 6000 euros per 1 sq. m depending on the floor. Their total area is about 100-140 sq. m, and up to 30-50 sq. m in them are allocated for closed and open balconies and terraces. The apartments have a fireplace and, at the request of the buyer, a sauna. Their layout is such that residents can enjoy the sunshine at any time of the day. Austria. From a bird's eye view Skating on the snowy slopes of the Grossglockner and Wildspitz in summer gives way to flights over the valleys of the Austrian Alps. This is the place for extreme sports such as paragliding, hang gliding and kiting, with experienced professional instructors willing to patiently teach beginners. For those who want to take off without risking their lives, there is always the Fisser Flieger attraction, which is a hang-glider flight attached to a cable. No less dizzying and even puzzling entertainment awaits teenagers at The Cradle Skatepark in Brixlegg. Last year, for the first time, the international Slalom World Championships were held here, which brought these places worldwide fame among sports youth. By the way, nearby is the ancient, 2000-year-old village of Alpbach, recognized by the Austrians as the most picturesque Alpine village. Every year, since 1945, European forums have been held here in the summer, which bring together the entire European political and economic elite. In general, the regions of Tyrol and Salzburg have long been chosen as a place for winter and summer holidays not only by the Austrians themselves, but also by the inhabitants of many other European countries. And real estate prices in these resort areas compare favorably with Swiss ones, although, as expected, they are an order of magnitude higher than in the country as a whole. For example, the cost of 1 sq. m in apartments in North Tyrol ranges from 2000 to 5000 euros. But in the case of buying a house with an adjacent plot of land of 1000-2000 sq. m and a panoramic view of 1 sq. m will cost 5000-7000 euros. The indisputable advantage of such villas in terms of investment is the autonomous layout of residential premises. At the request of the owner, they can be rented out either in part or in whole. Germany. In the foam of waves and horse racing, the "Bavarian Sea" is called the most beautiful foothill lake Chiemsee, located in the Traunstein region in Upper Bavaria. Sheltered by a chain of Alpine mountains from winds, bad weather and mass tourism, the lake with three islets has retained its pristine appearance, crystal clear water and well-groomed beaches with golden sand. Chiemsee has long been considered a favorite vacation spot for Germans, since it organically combines warm, up to 25 C, water in the lake in summer and fluffy, dazzling snow in the mountains in winter. As the inhabitants of the village of Chiemgau, located on the banks of the Chiemsee, joke, there is everything here for a vacation at any time of the year, if there is a place to live! In addition to fans of sailing and surfers, who fill all the coasts every year from May to September, there are also many relax-style vacationers who come here for the healing air, thermal complexes and balneological sanatoriums. And on the piers in small bays, so-called summer houses on the water are moored in abundance - snow-white yachts of different sizes and different prices. By the way, you can easily go on a multi-day trip along the waves by chartering one of these ships. The traditional hobby of the Germans is equestrian sport and its amateur variety - horseback riding in nature. Moreover, they begin to engage in this sport here from childhood: already five-year-olds are importantly sitting on long-maned calm ponies, led by the bridle by instructors. Cost of 1 sq. m of housing in the resort areas of Germany is about 2500-4000 euros. This is comparable to the prices for sleeping areas in the Russian capital, and in the Alps, in addition to a house with a land plot and stunning views of meadows and mountain peaks, the buyer also acquires additional amenities - a developed recreation infrastructure: swimming pools and tennis courts, fitness and spa centers, restaurants and the shops. France. Time apres-ski The elitism and respectability of rest in the French Alps has long been the talk of the town. Ski resorts become full-fledged heroes of the gossip and, as is the case with celebrities, are overgrown with numerous, often scandalous stories. This is not surprising, because people who come here from all European countries are often people of big business or politics, actors or showmen. It may seem strange at first glance, but it is in the summer that the individuality and flavor of each of the mountain resorts in France is most clearly manifested. For example, tennis and squash lovers choose Chamonix, which has 15 magnificent courts for these aristocratic games. At the foot of Mont Blanc, on the mountain river Arves, kayaking enthusiasts will face an exciting struggle with the water element, which makes the heart beat faster and throws crazy doses of adrenaline into the blood. And the lakes of Courchevel in summer become the perfect haven for meditative anglers. In addition, the Savoy Alps provide excellent opportunities for outdoor activities in the Vanoise National Park, where mountain biking will certainly be the best means of transportation. It is Courchevel, with its 30 cycling routes, that is considered the center of this sport. As you might expect, buying real estate in the famous resorts of the Three Valleys, which include Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens, requires serious investments - prestige, as you know, is considered a special item of expenditure. The cost of a chalet with a total area of 150-200 sq. m in these places is estimated at about 1 million euros, and 1 sq. m of apartments costs about 6,000 euros. However, just a few kilometers from the most prestigious resorts, real estate of the same class can be purchased for 30-40% cheaper. According to experts, with the right choice of location and with an adequate cost of housing, its owner is guaranteed a high rental income, since the occupancy rate can be almost 100% - the French Alps are attractive at any time of the year.
Alpine summer
01.05.2007
Author: Alyssa ZIGMANN
69
The snow-white mountain peaks bathed in dazzling sunshine, long beckon lovers of winter skiing. True to their addiction, they always come to the foot of the Alps, filling local hotels, chalets, guest houses and apartments are removable. But the most farsighted prefer to have a property in the Alps, the more that the possibilities for recreation are not only open in winter.
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