The French Alps are known for winter, but mountain villages are also used in summer. This guide looks at how altitude affects summer temperature, what summer activities mountain resorts offer, and what to check when you view a mountain property.
Quick answer: Temperature falls by roughly 0.6°C for every 100 metres of altitude, so a village at 1,000 metres is about 6°C cooler than the valley floor on an equivalent day. Resorts such as Chamonix, Morzine, Méribel and Les Gets offer summer activities including mountain biking and hiking. When you view a mountain property, check its insulation, shutters and orientation.
How Does Altitude Affect Summer Temperature?
Temperature falls by approximately 0.6°C for every 100 metres of altitude gained. A property at 1,000 metres, an altitude found in villages and resorts in the Haute-Savoie and Savoie, sits roughly 6°C cooler than the valley floor on an equivalent day, and at 1,500 metres the difference is around 9°C.
What Is a Mountain Property Like in Summer?
Many mountain chalets and apartments are built for cold winters, with thick walls, insulation and shutters, and terraces or balconies facing the views. These features can also help in summer, but they vary from building to building, so check each property. The terrace that faces the piste in winter faces the high pastures in summer.
Browse our current ski chalets and mountain properties with views to see what is currently listed.
What Summer Activities Do the Resorts Offer?
Chamonix, Morzine, Méribel and Les Gets offer summer activities such as mountain biking, hiking and open-air events. Our guide to French ski resorts for buyers and our Alps vs Pyrénées comparison cover the resort landscape, and our guides to Morzine and Les Gets and to Méribel and the Trois Vallées look at individual resorts.
Can You Use a Mountain Property All Year?
Many mountain properties can be used in both winter and summer. Check how the property is reached in each season, how it is heated, and what the local rules allow.
Where to Start
Browse by area in the Haute-Savoie and Savoie, or by budget, such as properties under €500,000. If you are considering a mountain property and would like to understand the market, get in touch — Town & Country Property France is happy to have a conversation without obligation, including a verbal valuation on a specific property.