The splendid chalet, belonging to the French Alpine Club (CAF) and situated in upmarket Courchevel 1850 is up for sale. An ideal investment for visiting Russian businessmen or Maroccan Kings one would think?
The Chalet, with a ground area of 150m2 and conveniently located in central Courchevel close to the front de neige will be sold for a figure around 4.5 million €. The chalet was built in the post-2nd world-war development euphoria to enable skiers from nearby towns to visit Courchevel. The station was financed by the Savoie regional government and originally had a strong social aspect. The CAF wants to use the money to invest in what it now sees as its core activity: high mountain refuges.
However not everyone is happy. Brigitte d’Halluin, the manager, complained that the CAF are ‘undressing a princess to clothe paupers’ and believes the chalet should be turned into a showcase for the CAF’s activities. The mayor, Gilbert Blanc-Tailleur is also keeping a close eye on the sale and may consider using the commune’s right to buy in order to preserve some low cost accomodation in what is increasingly becoming one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world.
Passing of an era. It’s really too bad--all the mountain towns are getting too expensive for real climbers & ski-mountaineers. Even Zermatt’s venerable Bahnhof Hotel now charges stiff penalties for last minute cancellations, which are often impossible to avoid due to weather & snow conditions if you are doing anything other than riding lifts.