FAQs
Les Sybelles property FAQs
Straight answers to the questions buyers ask us most about Les Sybelles: what property costs, how buying in France works, life in La Toussuire and St Sorlin d'Arves, the ski area, getting there and letting. Each answer links to the page that covers it in more depth. If your question isn't here, call or WhatsApp us.
About Les Sybelles
How big is Les Sybelles and what altitude is the skiing?
Les Sybelles is the 4th largest linked ski area in France, with 310 km of pistes: 136 pistes served by 68 ski lifts across 6 linked villages on one lift pass. The skiing runs from around 1,100 m to 2,620 m, with a maximum vertical drop of around 1,500 m. All the links between the villages are above 2,000 m, with the main hub at L'Ouillon (2,441 m). La Toussuire sits at 1,800 m and St Sorlin d'Arves at 1,650 m.
Which villages make up Les Sybelles?
Les Sybelles links 6 villages on one lift pass: La Toussuire, Le Corbier, Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, Saint-Jean-d'Arves, Les Bottières and Saint-Colomban-des-Villards (official list, sybelles.ski). L'Ouillon, at 2,441 m, is the main hub of the network.
Where is Les Sybelles?
Les Sybelles is in the Maurienne Valley in Savoie, in the French Alps, above Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. The ski area has views towards the Aiguilles d'Arves, La Meije and Mont Blanc. The Arvan-valley villages are reached from exit 27 of the A43.
Does one lift pass cover the whole of Les Sybelles?
Yes. One Les Sybelles lift pass covers all 6 linked villages and 310 km of pistes, so owners in La Toussuire or St Sorlin d'Arves can ski the whole domain and even ski from one village to the other and back in a day. For the rest of the Maurienne, the Skiogrande card (skiogrande.com) gives reduced-price lift passes for other resorts.
Is Les Sybelles snow-sure and when is the ski season?
No ski area can guarantee snow, but Les Sybelles is high and its slopes are predominantly north facing: the skiing reaches 2,620 m, much of it lies above 2,000 m and over 50 % of the domain is covered by snow cannons. All the links between the villages are also above 2,000 m, with the main hub at L'Ouillon (2,441 m). The season typically runs from mid-December to mid-April. La Toussuire could stay open until the end of April, but closes earlier because lower visitor numbers make it uneconomical to run the lifts. The tourist office publishes each winter's exact dates.
Is Les Sybelles good for beginners and families?
Yes. Les Sybelles has skiing for every level, with 45 blue runs, 20 fun zones and 8 snow gardens. La Toussuire suits young families in particular, with wide, sunny, south-facing home slopes and a pedestrianised centre. St Sorlin d'Arves gives quick access to the top of the domain and long cruising runs, including the 4.2 km La Panoramique. Both villages have an ESF ski school, children's clubs and childcare.
Is there a snowpark or freeride in Les Sybelles?
Yes. Les Sybelles has a 4-hectare snowpark at L'Ouillon, plus freeride and fun zones across the domain. The longest and steepest runs are on the St Sorlin d'Arves side.
What else is there to do in winter besides skiing?
Snowshoeing, winter walking, fat biking and paragliding are all on offer across Les Sybelles. There are plenty of other snow-based activities too, so you can explore the mountains away from the pistes.
What can you do in Les Sybelles in summer?
Hiking, mountain biking and road cycling are the main summer activities, with summer lifts giving easy access to high trails and ridges. Depending on where you are in the domain you can also try via ferrata, climbing, mountaineering, paragliding, horse riding and guided mountain adventures, or simply enjoy a picnic in the Alpine meadows.
La Toussuire
How high is La Toussuire?
La Toussuire sits at 1,800 m and the skiing rises to 2,620 m at the top of the domain.
How many restaurants are there in La Toussuire?
La Toussuire has a wide choice of 29 restaurants, along with bars, from traditional Savoyard dishes to pizzas and après-ski.
Does La Toussuire have a swimming pool?
Yes – there are 2 pools in the village, including the heated, covered Piscine des Soldanelles, plus wellness and spa facilities. Le Corbier, 7 minutes away, has a big outdoor heated pool open in winter and summer.
What is there to do in La Toussuire when you are not skiing?
Pools, spa and wellness, a leisure centre, L'Igloo cinema, a 6-lane bowling alley at Le Cairn, shops and 29 restaurants and bars. Free shuttles also take you to Le Corbier and Les Bottières.
What is there to do in La Toussuire in summer?
Hiking, mountain biking and road cycling over the Col de la Croix de Fer and Col du Glandon, lifts open to walkers, a tree-top adventure park, a zip line, mini golf, tubing, canyoning and the outdoor heated pool in nearby Le Corbier.
Is La Toussuire suitable for long stays?
Yes. It has supermarkets, a bank, a post office, a medical practice, ski schools, a nursery and childcare, so everything needed for an extended stay is in the village, in winter and summer.
Is there a doctor in La Toussuire?
Yes – a medical practice in the centre of the resort is open all season and there is an osteopath. The nearest pharmacies in Les Sybelles are in Le Corbier and St Sorlin d'Arves.
St Sorlin d'Arves
How high is St Sorlin d'Arves?
St Sorlin d'Arves sits at 1,650 m; the lifts rise to 2,620 m, the highest point of the domain.
Can I ski back to the village in St Sorlin d'Arves?
Yes. St Sorlin's own ski sector runs from around 1,500 m to 2,620 m, so pistes lead back down to the snow front in the village at 1,650 m, where the lifts start. The six-seater Les Choseaux and Le Rouet chairlifts take you quickly to the top of the domain. A free village shuttle runs every 20 to 25 minutes in winter and each listing on this site says how far that property is from the lifts and pistes.
Is St Sorlin d'Arves a good summer resort?
Yes – more than 100 km of marked hiking trails, the Col de la Croix de Fer cycling climb, around 30 mountain-bike routes, the Plan du Moulin Express chairlift for walkers and bikes, the Trois Lacs beneath the Saint Sorlin glacier and a summer bathing lake with supervised swimming.
Is there childcare in St Sorlin d'Arves?
Yes. Les Petits Diables day nursery takes children from 3 months to 6 years and the ESF ski school runs children's clubs combining lessons and childcare, with lessons from 2½ years.
Are there shops and restaurants in St Sorlin d'Arves?
Yes – a supermarket and minimarket, a butcher, local-produce shops, the Beaufort cheese dairy, ski hire and sports shops and a choice of restaurants and bars, from Savoyard restaurants to a pizzeria.
Is there a doctor and pharmacy in St Sorlin d'Arves?
Yes – a mountain doctor (Groupe Médical des Sybelles), the Pharmacie des Arves and a physiotherapist are all in the village.
Is St Sorlin d'Arves suitable for long stays?
Yes. It is a living village with everyday shops, healthcare, a ski school, a nursery and a free shuttle, so it suits extended stays as well as short breaks, in both winter and summer.
Do I need a car in St Sorlin d'Arves?
Largely not once you arrive: the village has the shops, services and nightlife for a stay and a free shuttle serves the whole village every 20 to 25 minutes in winter, with an evening shuttle between the villages.
Is there nightlife and après-ski in St Sorlin d'Arves?
Yes – La Petite Ferme has four bowling lanes, a games room and a bar, L'Avalanche Café is one of the livelier après-ski bars and D'Sybell Club keeps things going into the early hours.
Choosing between the two villages? Read the blog:
St Sorlin d'Arves or La Toussuire: which Les Sybelles village is right for your ski property?
Getting to Les Sybelles
How do I get to Les Sybelles?
Fly to one of the five nearby airports of Chambéry, Grenoble, Lyon, Geneva or Turin and drive, or take the TGV to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne at the foot of the resorts. Chambéry is the closest airport at circa 1 h 20 by car, with Grenoble and Turin circa 2 h, Geneva circa 2 h 10 and Lyon circa 2 h 15, depending on the time of year and conditions; direct TGVs from Paris reach Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne–Arvan station in circa 3 h 40, then a shuttle bus or taxi takes you up. By road, leave the A43 at exit 27.
How do I get to La Toussuire?
By car, leave the A43 at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (exit 27) and drive about 20 minutes up the Arvan valley road. By train, TGVs reach Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne–Arvan station in around 3 hours 40 minutes from Paris, then a shuttle bus or taxi takes you up to the resort; the S31 regional bus also runs from the station to La Toussuire in winter and in July and August.
How do I get to St Sorlin d'Arves?
By car, take the A43 to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (exit 27) and drive about 30 minutes up the Arvan valley. The nearest airports are Chambéry (circa 1 hour 20 minutes), Turin and Grenoble (circa 2 hours), Geneva (circa 2 hours 10 minutes) and Lyon (circa 2 hours 15 minutes), depending on the time of year and conditions. By train, TGVs reach Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne–Arvan station in around 3 hours 40 minutes from Paris, then a shuttle bus or taxi takes you up to the village.
Which airport is best for La Toussuire?
Chambéry is closest at circa 1 hour 20 minutes' drive but has limited winter flights. Lyon (circa 2 hours 15 minutes) and Geneva (circa 2 hours 10 minutes) both have far more UK flights, while Turin and Grenoble are both circa 2 hours away.
Can I get to La Toussuire by train?
Yes. TGV trains run to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne–Arvan station, around 3 hours 40 minutes from Paris, then a shuttle bus or taxi takes you up to the resort. Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne will be the international station of the new Lyon–Turin line, fully open in 2033.
Is a new high-speed train line coming to Les Sybelles?
Yes. Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, at the foot of the resorts, is becoming the international station of the new Lyon–Turin line, fully open in 2033. Once the full line is complete, Paris will be about 3 hours away and Milan just 1 hour, putting Les Sybelles closer to central Paris than any other resort in the French Alps.
Prices and the market
How much does a ski property in Les Sybelles cost?
Prices in Les Sybelles are some of the best value you will find in any resort in Savoie and Haute-Savoie, particularly given the size of the huge ski area that second-home owners have access to. For new-build properties, prices typically start at around €7,500/m² in St Sorlin d'Arves and €8,000–9,500/m² in La Toussuire, for a luxury old wood and stone finish. Right now, prices on this site start at €468,750 for a 3 bedroom resale apartment in La Toussuire. Prices update daily from our live listings. A new-build three-bedroom apartment in La Toussuire can cost what a studio does in Val d'Isère or Courchevel. Our buyer's guide places La Toussuire and St Sorlin d'Arves in its 'emerging value' tier. To request a copy of the brochure, please use our brochure request form.
Is Les Sybelles a good place to buy a ski property?
Les Sybelles is a superb place to buy a ski property. It gives you access to the 4th largest linked ski area in France (7th largest in Europe), with property prices well below the Tarentaise resorts an hour away. A hidden gem, it is only now being discovered by skiers and second-home hunters from Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium. With some of the lowest property prices in the French Alps, villages such as La Toussuire and St Sorlin d'Arves are year-round destinations, for skiing in winter and hiking, biking and cycling in summer. See our properties page for apartments and chalets currently for sale.
The buying process
Can British buyers still buy a ski property in the French Alps after Brexit?
Yes. UK citizens face no restrictions on owning French property, so buying a ski apartment or chalet in the Alps works just as it did before Brexit. What has changed is how long you can stay: without a visa, up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period in the Schengen area; owning a home supports a long-stay visa application but does not give you residency.
Can foreigners buy property in France?
Yes. There are no general nationality restrictions on buying property in France, although ownership does not by itself grant any right of residence.
How does the French buying process work and how long does it take?
A resale purchase usually takes two to three months from offer to legal completion, while an off-plan purchase completes when the building is handed over, typically 18 to 30 months later. Once you proceed you sign a reservation contract or compromis de vente (both providing a 10-day cooling-off period). The notaire holds your deposit while the searches and any mortgage are done and the sale completes when the acte authentique is signed.
Can I choose my own notaire and do I need a UK solicitor too?
Yes, you can appoint your own notaire and you do not need a UK solicitor. You can choose one even when the seller already has one and it costs you no more because the two notaires share the regulated fee. Any notaire in France can act on the sale. The notaire handles the legal side but some buyers prefer an English-speaking notaire for advice in English.
Should I buy in my own name, in joint names, with a tontine or through an SCI?
It depends on your family, your plans and tax in both countries. Buying in your own name is simplest. Joint names (indivision) gives each buyer a share they can pass on. A tontine clause passes the whole property to the surviving buyer. An SCI is a French property company that owns the property, which some families use for succession planning, though it brings its own paperwork and costs. We would be pleased to recommend specialists in this field to assist you should you wish to speak to someone.
Can I complete without travelling to France?
In many cases, yes. A power of attorney and the notaire's approved remote identification and signing procedures can allow completion without travelling.
What are the pitfalls of buying a property in France?
The most common are budgeting for the price alone, overlooking French inheritance rules and treating the VAT rebate as a simple discount. Notaire fees add around 7–8 % on a resale (2–2.5 % on a new build). French forced heirship can apply unless your will chooses the law of your nationality; even then, children may have a claim in some cases. The VAT rebate on a new build needs a qualifying letting, with part repaid if it stops within 20 years. UK owners should also be aware of the 90 day rule.
New builds (VEFA)
Should I buy a new-build or a resale ski property in France?
This ultimately depends on the buyer. New-build means lower notary fee purchase costs, ability to reclaim VAT if renting, generally have the ability to adapt the layout and input into the choices of materials depending on stage of construction, modern finishes, higher level of insulation, no renovation requirements and construction guarantees, while a resale is sold as seen, you can walk around the property without the need to understand a floorplan and you can be in within a few months. New-build is usually sold off-plan under a VEFA contract, with stage payments capped by law, a bank-backed completion guarantee, a ten-year structural guarantee and notaire fees of around 2–2.5 % against 7–8 % on a resale. The trade-off is time, as completion is typically 18 to 30 months away.
Is my deposit safe on an off-plan purchase?
Yes, your deposit is protected on a VEFA off-plan purchase. French VEFA purchases contain strong safeguards and are fully regulated. The reservation deposit of between 2-5% is held in the notaire's escrow account and stage payments are capped by law. A developer must provide a GFA (bank guarantee) before the final deed is signed to ensure the bank will step in to complete construction if the developer for any reason cannot complete the development.
What is included in a new-build property and how do snagging and handover work?
Your reservation contract sets out what is included, such as stage payment amounts, completion date and whether the apartment is being bought with a cave, ski locker and parking. The Notice Descriptive signed at reservation documents how the property will be built, including whether the kitchen is supplied, appliances provided, flooring and wall finishes. At handover you inspect with the seller, list any defects as reserves then pay the final balance. After handover you have a one-year parfait achèvement guarantee, two years on fitted equipment (biennale) and ten years on the structure (décennale).
What happens if a new build is delayed?
If a new build is delayed, the VEFA contract sets a delivery date but usually lets the developer extend it for legitimate causes such as bad weather, strikes or a contractor's insolvency. If the developer cannot complete the development for any reason there is a compulsory financial guarantee (GFA) which the bank pays to finish the building. This can be discussed with your notaire.
Is the VAT rebate on a new build simply a 20 % discount?
No. It is a refund of the VAT on the purchase price and is open only to owners who let the property as a VAT-charging business, such as renting it through a local agency in the resort as a furnished let with at least three of four hotel-type services (breakfast, cleaning, linen and reception). This only applies to new build properties. The purchase price documented in the contracts and mortgage applied for is always the VAT inclusive price. VAT is reclaimed retrospectively. The VAT reclaimed is one-sixth of a VAT-inclusive price, so €83,333 on €500,000. For buyers of Classic Freehold properties who wish to stop renting within 20 years, there is an amount repayable calculated on a one-twentieth per year rented deduction. For example after 20 years, there is nothing to repay, 10 years 50%, 5 years 75% of VAT reclaimed. Alpine Property Investments would be pleased to introduce you to specialists we have been recommending for over 15 years to assist with reclaiming VAT.
Costs and taxes
How much does it cost to buy a property in France?
On top of the price, budget for notaire fees and taxes of around 7–8 % on a resale or around 2–2.5 % on a new build, whose price already includes 20 % VAT. On a €400,000 resale that is roughly €28,000–32,000; on a €400,000 new build, roughly €8,000–10,000. Other one-off costs can include mortgage fees, currency transfer costs and furniture.
What are the running costs of a ski property in France?
The main yearly costs are taxe foncière, taxe d'habitation (which still applies to second homes), copropriété charges, insurance and utilities, plus management fees if you let the property. A new build may qualify for a two-year taxe foncière exemption, subject to local rules. Wealth tax (IFI) applies only if your property assets in France are worth over €1.3 million net of qualifying debt.
What are copropriété (service) charges and how much are they?
Copropriété charges are each owner's share of the cost of running and looking after the shared parts of an apartment building or residence. They typically pay for the managing agent (syndic), building insurance, cleaning and lighting of the communal areas, lift upkeep, snow clearance and general maintenance, plus shared heating and hot water in some buildings. The figure differs a lot from one residence to the next, depending on its facilities and services, so ask for the current charges and the copropriété paperwork before you commit to a resale apartment. For new builds as these are not built and therefore don't have historical figures it's not possible to provide accurate information.
Do I pay capital gains tax in France when I sell as a non-resident?
Yes. The gain is taxed in France at 19 %, plus a 7.5 % solidarity levy for UK residents covered by UK social security, rather than the full 17.2 % social charges. The income tax falls away after 22 years of ownership and the social charges after 30. The notaire pays the tax from the proceeds. A UK seller needs a tax representative unless the price is €150,000 or less per seller or the gain is exempt. Declare it in the UK too and take advice from a tax adviser. We would be pleased to recommend someone to talk with should you wish to discuss this further.
Can I choose UK law for my estate and how does French inheritance work?
Usually, yes. Under EU Succession Regulation 650/2012, applied in France, a British national can choose in their will the law of their nationality, such as English law, for their whole estate. Without that choice, French forced heirship can apply to French property, reserving half the estate for one child, two-thirds for two and three-quarters for three or more. Since November 2021 a child may still claim that share from French assets if the chosen law gives none and there is an EU link. Take advice from a notaire.
Mortgages, money and currency
Can I get a mortgage on a French property as a UK resident?
Yes. Qualifying non-residents, UK buyers among them, can borrow from French banks, typically up to 70 % of the price and occasionally 80 %. Lending is based on affordability, UK buyers can be asked for a larger deposit than EU borrowers and long-term fixed rates over 15, 20 or 25 years are the norm.
How do I manage currency risk and staged payments on a new build?
On an off-plan (VEFA) purchase you pay in stages capped by law: no more than 35 % when the foundations are finished, 70 % when the building is watertight, 95 % on completion and the last 5 % at handover. As these euro payments are spread over many months, exchange-rate changes can alter what you pay in pounds. Some buyers use an FCA-regulated currency specialist, who can fix a rate in advance with a forward contract. We can introduce you to one.
Do I need a French bank account?
Not to buy. For resales, purchase funds go by bank transfer to the notaire's account as French law requires. For VEFA new builds, the deposit and Deed amount go to the notaire. After the Deed, stage payments go directly to the building company. Most owners open a French account afterwards for direct debits in euros to utilities, insurers, copropriété and local taxes. A French mortgage lender normally opens an account as part of the process. Some French banks open non-resident accounts with ID, proof of address and proof of income.
Surveys and renovation
Do I need a structural survey?
A survey is not automatically part of the French buying process; properties are sold as seen and the seller supplies statutory diagnostic reports. Buyers of older or extensively renovated properties may wish to commission one.
Which property surveys (diagnostics) does the seller provide?
The seller must attach a file of diagnostic reports (the DDT) to the compromis. It always includes the energy rating (DPE), plus an energy audit when a house or detached chalet is rated E, F or G. Depending on the property, it adds asbestos (permit before July 1997), lead (built before 1949), electricity and gas (installations over 15 years old), termites where the prefect requires it, septic tank and a risks report. For an apartment, the deed states the Loi Carrez floor area. None of this is a structural survey.
What permission do I need to renovate an apartment or chalet?
Inside work that changes neither the outside nor the use, such as a new kitchen or bathroom, usually needs no planning permission. New windows, facade or roof changes, or a small extension need a déclaration préalable from the mairie. Extensions over 20 m², or 40 m² in a local plan's urban zones, generally need a permis de construire. In an apartment, work on common parts or the outside, such as a load-bearing wall or windows, also needs the copropriété's approval at a general meeting. Ask the mairie what applies.
Owning, letting and living there
What insurance do I need for a ski property in France?
In an apartment building, the copropriété must insure its liability and usually also insures the building against damage, with the cost in your charges. As an owner you must also have liability insurance for your own apartment, even if you don't live there. Contents cover is your choice and if you let the property a non-occupying owner's policy (PNO) is usual. A chalet you own outright needs its own buildings and liability cover. Check what the building's policy includes.
Is there good broadband and mobile signal for remote working in La Toussuire and St Sorlin d'Arves?
Yes for broadband: both villages are on Savoie's public fibre network. Arcep data shows about 98 % of premises in Fontcouverte-la-Toussuire (La Toussuire's commune) and about 94 % in St Sorlin d'Arves can connect to fibre, with the main French providers offering it. Mobile 4G and 5G coverage varies by operator and building, so check the exact address on Arcep's online maps and ask whether the building has signed up for fibre.
Can I rent out my ski property in Les Sybelles?
Yes. You can let your property if you want to; the type of purchase contract decides how. With a Classic Freehold there is no rental obligation (rent or not, it's up to you), a Loi Montagne contract is owner-let via a local agency with services (personal use typically 6 weeks winter, 8 weeks summer in Les Sybelles per year) and a Résidence de Tourisme is a leaseback with a management company. We're happy to talk you through the options for any property.
Do I have to rent out my property?
No. If you want to avoid renting, choose a Classic Freehold property, which has no rental obligation. With Classic Freehold you can still rent and reclaim the 20 % VAT rebate on a new build using a local agency. Loi Montagne and Résidence de Tourisme properties carry mandatory rental obligations, with owner usage dependent on the specific project.
How is rental income from a French property taxed?
Rental income from a French property is taxed in France, most often under the LMNP furnished-letting regime. In France you can deduct mortgage interest where the purchase is financed, running costs including copropriété fees and the expenses for one inspection trip each year before tax is calculated. If you are UK resident you must also declare the income in the UK and claim credit under the France–UK double-tax treaty so the same income is not taxed twice.
Still have a question?
Ask Steve or Lesley: we have sold property in both villages for many years and are happy to help.