Chillchalet accommodation in the French Alps

Guardian article about Bourg-St-Maurice as a year round resort

office@chillchalet.com
+44 (0)207 831 0707
+44 (0)7931 967861

Home
Chalets
La Plagne
Les Arcs
Service
Snow
Summer
Availability
Travel
Cookery Courses
Webcams
Guestbook
Blog
Gallery
Sitemap

Home > Chalets > Les Arcs > Guide to Bourg > Article about Bourg Saint Maurice

The Guardian Thursday August 28th 2008

Saundra Satterlee discovers a growing trend of multi-seasonal resorts.
Winter in Aspen or the Alps and summer by the lakeside or sea. For decades vast swathes of holidaymakers and second homeowners have followed a set pattern of seasonal migration. But nowadays not only are more single season destinations expanding their facilities, there is a trend toward being open all year.

"Five years ago skiers would be on the slopes from dawn to dusk followed by little more than an evening meal. These days it has to be a holiday with a plethora of attractions that include everything from a big selection of shops and restaurants to spas and alternative indoor and outdoor sports. Meanwhile resorts are becoming more multi-seasonal," observes David Giraud, MD of MGM Constructeur, the largest property developer in the French Alps.

Giraud, whose family-run company has 20 developments on the go throughout the French Alps, sees the current expansion as related to broader trends in the market (eg technology, economics, demographics and lifestyle) and also in some cases to altitude. "Resorts at 1,400m or less tend to be winter and summer destinations, and here Chamonix with the added draw of sitting at the foot of Mont Blanc is a prime example. Resorts above 1,600m, known as altitude resorts, have historically concentrated on winter."

At 2,100m, Tigne provides a good example of a winter resort that is undergoing a major transformation. Local initiatives have resulted in any number of massive new projects such as a spa « the largest in the area and for the first time ever a summer arts festival. "We're very much mid-stream in turning Tigne into a multi-season resort," explains Simie Johnson, head of marketing at the Tigne tourist office.

Not only are more facilities and amenities coming on stream for many Alpine resorts, Giraud identifies a deepening concern for the environment. "We're seeing a marriage of ecology and economy," he says, "with an increasing number of developers signing up to the government-backed HQR environmental initiative that covers carbon-neutral and eco-friendly construction."

That visitors and resort homeowners expect more facilities goes hand in hand with boosting the local economy and job creation. "Everybody has to be involved in improving the infrastructure from local authorities (including town planners and tourist officials) to developers," says Giraud.

Le Telemark is a new MGM development in Tigne of 58 one to four bedroom ski-in ski-out apartments priced from 230,000 Euros (£184,000) and sold on a leaseback basis (a government scheme to make more properties available for tourism whereby you buy the freehold but lease it back to an approved management company for an 11-year period, during which time owners have limited use).

Elsewhere and at the lower elevation of 850m in Bourg Saint Maurice a different kind of transformation is taking place. "Although we have a railroad station Eurostar and TGV terminus « and a funicular that goes to Paradiski (which incorporates Les Arcs at 1600m), we have been overlooked as a destination in its own right," laments Eric Adamkiewicz, general manager of the Bourg tourist office. A number of local initiatives mean that the historic centre is getting a facelift and the tourist board is in the throes of expanding local sports facilities and extending the funicular to year round service. "We plan to enlarge and update the old thermal hotel and build a wellness centre within the next five years. Weåre at the beginning of turning Bourg into a year round resort," says Adamkiewicz.

In anticipation of Bourg's revamp and future year-round status, MGM has launched two new developments a stone's throw from the towns historic centre. Le Grand Coeur sold on an outright basis, which means that you can stay in the property when you wish (as opposed to leaseback) It has 40 one to four bedroom apartments priced from 186,000 Euros (£148,000) to 520,000 Euros. Le Coeur D'Or, with 42 one to four bedroom units sold on a leaseback basis from 135,000 Euros to 400,000 Euros, is adjacent to municipal tennis courts, a 50-metre pool and a nature reserve. When it comes to price per square metre according to MGM's Richard Deans, Bourg averages around 5,000 Euros (compared to Tigne at 7,500 Euros Chamonix at 8,500 Euros and Courcheval at 22,000 Euros).

Back to Guide to Bourg menu...