Annecy: new homes in France’s Golden Triangle

Shopping and sailing are on the doorstep of exclusive new homes to be built in the heart of the historic French lakeside town of Annecy

Villa Méïa, which is planned by leading local developer MGM, will comprise just four apartments within the town’s so-called Golden Triangle, the peaceful pedestrianised heart of Annecy with its cobbled streets and Little Venice canal network. The development will be close to the Annecy branch of Galeries Lafayette – the upmarket French department store – as well as the town’s weekly antiques markets and others selling local produce in the Parmelan area of the town.

A few minutes walk from the site is the waterfront of what has been dubbed the cleanest lake in Europe. Lake Annecy is popular with those who enjoy sailing, swimming, watersports and fishing.

Although development opportunities in Annecy are rare, MGM has been successful in securing them in recent years thanks to the enviable reputation for high-calibre schemes it has built with the local authority in the past 50 years. To date the firm has completed 10 developments in Annecy and around its lake.

“When we submit proposals for new schemes to the local planners, they know from experience that it will comply with their stringent requirements regarding the style, finishes and overall quality of the architecture,” says Richard Deans who heads MGM’s London office.

“The two-bedroom and three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments at Villa Méïa will have floor areas ranging from 80m2 to more than 107m2. They will combine contemporary designs with traditional architectural styles. The emphasis will be on clean lines and subtle terraces featuring exceptionally high quality materials throughout.”

Every apartment occupies an entire floor with windows on all sides, combining what the developer describes as airy volume with plenty of natural light. Each one also comes with a secure garage and an external parking space.

In surveys, Annecy consistently features as one of the most desirable places to live in France. Flower-filled in summer, the town is a cultural centre hosting festivals, conferences, exhibitions and theatrical performances throughout the year.

“For investors, there is good scope for long-term or short-term lets and holiday rentals, as well as capital growth,” comments Richard.

The prices of new-build properties in Annecy have doubled in the past 15 years, despite the recession. They rose by 8% in the past year alone. In addition, rents have seen an annual increase of 1.8% since 2007. The off-plan prices of MGM’s new apartments at Villa Méïa in Annecy start at €690,000.

Annecy’s appeal

French people widely regard Annecy as the perfect place to live all year round. The town is a centre for sailing and water sports in summer, and less than half an hour by road from top ski resorts like Le Grand Bornand and La Clusaz.

Annecy is around 30 minutes by car from both Geneva Airport and Chambéry Airport. By train, the town is about three hours from Paris and its Eurostar rail link with London’s St Pancras International.

MGM, whose head office is located in Annecy, is committed to attracting UK buyers to its new homes, both on the shores of the lake and close to the heart of the picturesque olde worlde university town with its Little Venice canal network, restaurants, cafes and weekly markets. The hidden gem is well-known to residents of the Cotswold spa town of Cheltenham with which Annecy is twinned.

The appeal of the area around Lake Annecy – which is more than 14km long and the cleanest lake in Europe – spans thousands of years. Archaeologists have found remains of a waterfront settlement near Annecy-le-Vieux dating back to 3100 BC.

Today the lake is popular for windsurfing, wakeboarding, swimming, scuba-diving and fishing. Nearby are facilities for paragliding, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing and canyoning.

For more information call MGM on 0207 4940706, email [email protected] or visit the website www.mgmfrenchproperties.com