Despite the spectre of shrinking glaciers and unpredictable snowfall, a ski property in the French Alps remains a popular investment. Prices in these areas have climbed sharply in recent years – in the Haute-Savoie, they have increased by an average of 26pc over the past five years, according to Meilleurs Agents.
The French don’t call British skiers “Le Rosbif” for nothing. When it comes to ski holidays, just like our roast dinners, we know what we like. For a long time, that has involved choosing the same ski resorts year in and year out. But after a wallet-squeezing couple of years, increasingly unpredictable snow conditions and a desire to avoid long lift queues, skiers are looking for alternative resorts away from the tried-and-tested favourites.
I find myself for the second time in my life in the French Alps, 2,200 meters high, drinking a hot cocktail with Chartreuse and chocolate at a café with a spellbinding view of this heavenly creation.