Divided into four resorts, Méribel has a diverse range of properties to suit a wide variety of buyers.
When we talk about Méribel, we usually mean the whole resort. But with an altitude of between 1,100 and 2,950 metres, it actually comprises four distinct sites: Méribel-Mottaret, Méribel-centre, Méribel-village and Méribel-les-Allues. All are part of the 3 Vallées, an exceptional ski area with a worldwide reputation. Here's what you need to know about each of them, depending on what you're looking for and what you want to buy.
Méribel-Mottaret: ski to your feet
Perched at an altitude of 1,750 metres, the village of Mottaret offers the advantage of being able to leave home with skis on, in the heart of the 3 Valleys. So it's the best place to enjoy the ski area, whether you're an experienced skier or a beginner. Mottaret boasts a snowpark, play areas and cross-country ski trails. The village is also a lively place in summer, with tennis courts, a mini-golf course and activities such as the dévalkart (a leisure machine) and the trampoline.
Although property prices here have risen sharply over the last five years, they remain more affordable than in the heart of the Méribel resort. In terms of architecture, there are very few chalets. Most are apartment blocks, built in the 1970s, but with a certain traditional Savoyard charm. These developments are mainly made up of small apartments: ‘T2 and T2 bis apartments of between 25 and 35 m²,’ explains Floriane Chedal-Anglay, property consultant at GSI by Foncia Transaction Mottaret. ‘On average, these properties cost between €8,000 and €13,000 per m²,’ adds Guillaume Charrier, expert property consultant at GSI by Foncia Tarentaise Méribel centre.
Méribel resort: the most festive
Situated at an altitude of 1,450 metres, this is the largest village in the valley, with most of the services: shops, restaurants, boutiques, bars... And all the après-ski activities: climbing wall, swimming pool, wellness area, skating rink, bowling alley, Olympic park... Many ski lifts leave from the village for easy access to the slopes. So this is the heart of the resort, the liveliest place. It's an area that will appeal to those who want to experience the mountains to the full, with all the amenities.
Prices vary widely, from €5,000 to €50,000 per m²,’ says Sabine Gorrand, property consultant at GSI by Foncia Transaction Méribel centre. Older properties in need of renovation, with no view, can be sold for as little as €5,000 per m², while luxury new developments fetch very high prices. So it's difficult to establish an average. That said, it is possible to define a more precise price range: for all types of property combined, you should expect to pay between €8,000 and €20,000 per m² for old property, and between €22,000 and €35,000 per m² for new property.
Méribel-village: the up-and-coming sector
Méribel-village, at an altitude of 1,400 metres, was home to just a few sheepfolds until the 1990s. Since then, the area has grown steadily, with a large number of apartment buildings and shops. In the centre of the village, the Golf chairlift provides access to the slopes.
‘If you buy in Méribel-village, you can easily be on skis, or at least close to the ski lifts,’ adds Sabine Gorrand. According to her, property prices range from €7,000 to €15,000 per m² for both condominiums and individual chalets. New-build flats in current developments can fetch up to €20,000 per m².
Méribel-les-Allues: the quest for authenticity
At an altitude of 1,100 metres, the Méribel-les-Allues area is made up of a dozen hamlets: Le Raffort, Cruet, Vanthier, Nantgerel, la Gittaz, le Plantin, Le Villard, Hauteville and Les Allues, the main town. ‘Together, these hamlets account for 15-20% of all purchases in the Méribel resort,’ explains Sabine Gorrand.
Here, buyers are attracted by the authentic, traditional architecture typical of the mountains, ‘with good value for money’. While the average price for all types of property is between €6,000 and €7,000 per m², you can find old studios without a view from €3,500 per m² right up to new developments selling for around €10,000 per m²,’ she explains. These prices, which are more affordable than in the rest of the resort, are mainly due to the lower altitude (around 1,100 metres) and slightly less obvious access to the slopes. That said, there are plenty of free shuttle buses and the Olympe gondola provides quick access to the ski area.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
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