Mont Blanc Ultra-Trail

Mont Blanc Ultra-Trail, Chamonix Mont Blanc 28th August

The Mont Blanc Ultra-Trail is one of the most challenging sporting events in the world and it is certainly not for the faint-hearted. If you haven't already registered you can heave a sigh of relief - applications for entry have now closed! Starting out in Chamonix in the early evening of August 28th, 2,300 hardened athletes are going to run (yes, run!) around the Mont Blanc mountain range, a distance of approximately 166km with elevation gains of over 9,400m. The race is run in one leg and many say this is the toughest foot race in Europe. For last year's event, 2,000 runners registered for the race in under 7 minutes, 5 months before the race - showing just how popular this type of extreme sporting event has become.

As with the walking Tour de Mont Blanc, the runners will start from the French side of the range in Chamonix Mont Blanc. From here they will pass into Italy, on to Switzerland and back to Chamonix. The fastest time in 2008 was 20 hours 58 minutes - given that most hikers take at least 10 days to finish the walking version you can see just how fit these people need to be.

So, talking of hard work, August, September and October are often our busiest times of year and 2009 looks set to be no exception. The alpine property market has definitely picked up the pace and there are some excellent bargains being snapped up by buyers that know a good deal when they see one. If you buy now then you will be completing in time for the upcoming 2009/2010 ski season (although it is hard to think about snow when it's 30 degrees outside the office!), so now is definitely a good time to get out and start looking.

For details on our property for sale please visit our Buy Property page.

Alternatively why not pick up the phone and contact us with your requirements, we'd be happy to do the hard work giving you some more time to enjoy the summer!

If this all sounds a little strenuous, why not sit back and enjoy the Fete du Lac this Saturday? Find out more here.

Special offer in Les Contamines!

Work is now well underway on an exciting new apartment residence in the village centre of Les Contamines-Montjoie, a resort which is surely one of the best kept secrets in the northern French Alps. With just 4 apartments remaining, now is a great time to view and take advantage of a special offer of 299,000 euros for a spacious 2-bed apartment of 50m2. With reduced notaires fees of approximately 2.5% and a 10-years builder's guarantee, this high-quality residence is a real gem in the local ski property market.

Les Contamines is located in the Evasion Mont Blanc ski domain, set against the stunning backdrop of Mont Blanc, and is renowned for its high quality snow cover, quiet slopes and suitability for winter sports enthusiasts of all levels. The resort is also busy in summer, with an array of activities on offer and some beautiful Alpine scenery to be enjoyed.

The village started out as a pretty Savoyard farming community and despite expansion in recent years Les Contamines has successfully retained its charm and character. Les Contamines is nestled in a valley surrounded by stunning mountain peaks and alpine scenery. Lying on the famous "Tour de Mont Blanc" walking route, it is the last community between the French-Italian borders and is also on a pilgrimage route due to the old church of Notre Dame and an ancient monastery clinging to the mountain side high above the valley. This is an area of the Alps where you can still see working Savoyard farms operating using traditional techniques (the other day I saw a farmer loading up a wooden hay cart drawn by a huge cart horse).

Whilst retaining its sense of history, the centre of Les Contamines has a good selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops and is an ideal holiday destination for couples and families. Just outside the village there is a large activity park, with a sailing and swimming lake, archery, horse-riding and an acro-branching centre amongst other activities. It is a popular resort in both summer and winter; with a good mix of French and international tourists visiting the area and property in Les Contamines has excellent dual-season rental potential.

The new apartment residence has a traditional alpine design, perfectly in-keeping with the beautiful surroundings. It is made up of 16 high quality apartments, of which just 4 remain, and is scheduled for completion in autumn 2009. Prices include fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms; private garages are also available at extra cost. All the village amenities are within an easy 5 minute walk of the development and the main lifts are only 2-3 minutes away by shuttle bus (or about 15 minutes on foot).

To view details of the 4 remaining apartments, click on the links below:

1-bed apartment

2-bed apartment

3-bed apartment

3-bed penthouse apartment

To view other ski and summer property for sale in Les Contamines and Evasion Mont Blanc visit our Buy Property pages.