Buying Hotspot – Évian-les-Bains

Ready to make the move?

The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track.

ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Standing sentinel on the southern shore of Lake Geneva (or ‘Lac Léman’ as it is known to the French) in Haute-Savoie, Évian-les-Bains gazes out towards Switzerland. Once the Savoy Dukes’ favourite country retreat and home of the famous mineral water, it remains a chic, sought-after spa destination, particularly in summer. A jewel of BelleÉpoque architecture, with elegant villas standing regally along the waterfront, it is coveted by buyers and holidaymakers alike.

The thriving summer rental market makes it an ideal spot for those looking at buy-to-let options. And with the Alps on the doorstep, the ski resort of Thollon-les-Mémises just 20 minutes away and easy access to the slopes of Chamonix and Megève, there are attractive holiday let prospects in winter too. Behind Évian’s quiet façade lies a lively town where you will find plenty to keep you busy such as tennis, water sports and golf. The resort also boasts a casino, thermal spa and lots to interest history buffs – not least the neo-classicalVilla Lumière town hall and the Art Nouveau Cachat pump room. Meanwhile the Friday farmers’ market, with its array of fresh produce, charcuterie and local cheeses, draws crowds from miles around.

The town’s year-round popularity means that property here commands a premium. A sprawling villa with pool and breathtaking lakeside views will set you back around €850,000, for example. That said, while historic piles and townhouses may be out of many buyers’ reach and budget, the area offers a mix of more affordable modern apartments, detached houses and chalets.

Studios are hard to come by in Évian, however, as the majority of flats have an average of three rooms. A one-bedroom newbuild apartment starts at €150,000, while a two-bedroom flat with views over Lake Geneva can fetch around €200,000 on average. Three-bedroom flats range from €350,000 to €450,000 depending on size, specification and aspect.

Chalets start at €500,000 and are a good option for those seeking a peaceful setting away from the hubbub of Évian’s historic centre. Most are located on the outskirts, so you’ll need a car or bike to get around.

Évian is accessible by air from the UK with direct flights to Geneva, Chambéry and Lyon airports. It can be reached by Eurostar from London and TGV high-speed train from Paris.

With thanks to our partner agencies in Évian-les-Bains

View properties for sale in this area>>>

If you would like some assistance discovering this or other areas of France and find out more about what the property market has to offer please don’t hesitate to give us a call at +44 (0) 1225 463752 or email us at [email protected].

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or don’t have time to search yourself, FrenchEntrée has a dedicated Property Team to assist you in finding your dream property. Let us know what you are looking for and we will do our best to select properties matching your requirements.