Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski | Properties and Insights into the Resort
The Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine (Isère) comprises Alpe d’Huez, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany, Auris-en-Oisans, Villard-Reculas, and Huez. Skiers here enjoy a playground of 250 kilometres of marked trails, including the legendary 16-kilometre-long Sarenne black run with an 1820-meter elevation drop.
The descent starts at Pic Blanc (the resort’s peak at an altitude of 3330 meters) and ends at the Sarenne gorges (1510 meters). The area offers three other descents approaching or exceeding 2000 meters of negative elevation in one go, without any lift interruption from Pic Blanc.
The gentle slopes at the base are ideal for beginners, while the black runs from the Pic Blanc cable car and Marmottes III gondola provide thrilling, technical descents across over 2200m of elevation change. The glacier runs, including Sarenne (the world’s longest run at 16 km starting from the Sarenne Glacier), La Fare, and Château Noir, allow for about 1.5 hours of skiing without lift interruptions.
Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski in numbers: 131 marked and safe trails (250 km), 2230 meters of elevation change, Sarenne, the world’s longest run, 10,000 hectares of vast spaces, 800 hectares dedicated to skiing, 84 lifts, 102,600 skiers/hour capacity, 923 snow guns covering 50 trails over 1130m of elevation (75 km of slopes, 32% of the ski area), 2 snowparks, 1 boardercross, 1 night ski run, 2 beginner areas, a 1200m toboggan run, 50 km of cross-country trails, and 30 km of hiking paths.
Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine | Our Property Insights
Investing in property in Grand Domaine ski area, whether it is Alpe d’Huez, Vaujany or any other of the ski resorts that make up this magnificent ski area, presents a remarkable lifestyle opportunity for those seeking a home in a dual-season resort, perfect for ski holidays and active summer retreats. Consider the following:
- Year-Round Appeal: Alpe d’Huez and Vaujany attract visitors year-round for winter sports and summer activities, offering potential for consistent rental income.
- VAT Reclaim on New Builds: New property buyers may reclaim 20% VAT, subject to rental conditions. Prices have increased dramatically in the last years but at around 10-12,000€/m2 on average for new build, it is offers extremely competitive value compared the 3 Valleys or Val d’Isere.
- Resale or older properties for sale are rare and tend to sell quickly, therefore keeping property prices high. Expect 7,000-9,000€/m2 for a central property.
- Location and Accessibility: Easily accessible, these resorts offer varied altitudes and settings. You can access from Geneva (2.5 hours) or Grenoble (1.5 hour).
- Strong Rental Demand: High demand for rentals, especially for centrally located apartments so very good return potential.
- VAT Rebate for Rentals: Property owners who rent out can potentially recover a 20% VAT rebate on the price of a new-build property.
Overall, real estate investment here is an opportunity for a beautiful personal retreat and a viable option for generating steady rental income throughout the year.