Le Lavancher

Le Lavancher is a little hamlet in an elevated position which, if you head to Argentiere from Chamonix, you access by a turn off to the right just before the avalanche protection on the main road. 6 Km from Chamonix and 3 Km from Argentière it is situated at an altitude of 1250 m. Located in a sunny little valley at the foot of the Aiguilles of Chamonix and facing the Argentière valley, Le Lavancher is 60 or so houses packed into this typical hamlet of the Haute-Savoie region.

Being sandwiched between Chamonix and the definitive off piste resort of Argentiere (Grand Montets); it is pricey, but worth it; as it is a quiet location away from the hustle and bustle of those two places In effect situated in a cul de sac, the road peters out into mountain trails and it is an equally popular summer walking and mountaineering location with a core of year round inhabitants.

We have a semi - detached farm, in need of complete renovation for sale here. Although it currently has no planning permission, we know that it can be renovated; semi detached as lots of properties are in Le Lavancher . It is centrally located, huge, with consequent - enormous potential.

Note that parking is an issue in the hamlet but the mairie has created public parking spaces just opposite the farm on the road - and there is the possibility to create a garage on the farm property itself.

As a guide to prices in the area, the farm next door, is on the market for just under 2,000,000€, although it is detached it has only been partly renovated so that gives you an idea of the values there.

Grab yourself a bit of mountain structure!

Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French alps

Plateau de Solaison

Between the Pointe d'Andey(1877m) and the Roschers des Leschaux (1986m)
lies the Plateau de Solaison. At around 1500 metres it is a popular spot with the French and Swiss judging by the number of cars parked outside the several Savoyarde restaurants located there.

Having said that it is still a peaceful and quiet spot, we picnicked there yesterday and we saw three plants of interest and heard not a thing.





Dactylorhiza Majalis or the Marsh Orchid (above) and Gentiana Verna or the Spring Gentian (right)



Also this plant taxidermy Chemise try as he might he couldn't take off and eventually gave up.





















Just before lunch I hiked up to the Serreau to the west of the Pointe d'Andey, it is a precipitous cliff and not for the vertiginous but a relatively easy walk up. Great views of the Arve valley and down towards Geneva, you can see the Jura mountains and the Saléve from there.

Max enjoyed the day out too (you can see the Pointe d'Andey in the back ground)

Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French alps

Chamonix farmhouse for sale

Dating from 1828 and tastefully renovated, this beautiful savoyarde farmhouse has 5 bedrooms, 4 bath/shower rooms, wine cellar, sauna and 1,500m² of land.

Situated in the village of Servoz there is also an annexe of 160m² to renovate.

Price €1.8million and worth every penny.

For more details contact
Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French

Cascade de l'Arpenaz

This spectacular waterfall in the French alps will have been seen by many of you from the A40 just after Cluses or Sallanches depending on your direction.

Close to the proposed new lift* from the bottom of the Arve valley to Flaine in the Grand Massif, it is worth a close up. There are picnic tables and many a barbecue has been had there, the water has a cooling effect and on a hot day it is a fab spot to escape the heat of the sun.

* This new link if it happens will be helped if Annecy gets the 2018 winter olympics, so we at chaletdoctors say go Annecy.

Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French alps

Kenton Cool makes it to the summit of Everest for the Seventh time

Kenton Cool our neighbour and friend has made it seven summits, having made it to the top of the world for the seventh time.

Oh and he dragged some old geezer called Sir Ranuph Fiennes up there too.

Awesome Kenton, well done - safe return.

By the way your grass needs cutting!

Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French alps

Cluses, Haute Savoie

Cluses has changed somewhat from the description given by Thomas Cook in his Traveller's handbook of Switzerland and Savoy dated 1922 which I acquired recently.

Describing it then as being on the right bank of the Arve river and chiefly inhabited by watchmakers and overshadowed by the Brezon precipices. Cluses is characterised by the booming of cannon "to awaken the echoes".

I am not sure if you could hear the echoes let alone wake them these days as the autoroute takes no prisoners, but the watch making history is still evident in the watchmakers museum still open to the public.

Certainly the expertise in watchmaking, albeit translated into light engineering now is testament to what Cook saw back at the turn of the century.

Now, Cluses is one of the main towns in the Arve Valley, situated at the foot of the northern French Alps and beneftiting from its great location less than 45mins from Geneva, Italy, Chamonix and Annecy. It is also the centre of the Faucigny region which is renowned for its fantastic ski resorts many just a short drive from the centre of Cluses.

Some people might recognise the name if they had taken note of the odd road sign on their way up to Chamonix or Megeve and particularly if they were heading off to the Grand Massif or Portes du Soleil ski resorts as you would have to turn off the A40 autoroute at Cluses to get to the latter two.

A bit of a thoroughfare as a consequenceof this proximity to one of the main arterial routes in France, it is characterised the Arve river rushing through it and by a decent enough square. But it is a sad fact that you can never really get away from the traffic, however if you are on the way through and do feel peckish then there are two reasons to stop.

The Chiangmai, 8 Rue Joseph-Nicollet, 0450891200 is a decent Thai restaurant with a friendly owner and he also does his food more to the British not French taste (i.e.spicier). I had the Tom Yam soup 8.50€ and the Nouille Sauté (Pad Thai) at 6€. It is just along from the square.

The 8th May in the road of the same name is also run by a friendly husband and wife team and its decent simple food and rapid friendly service is worth noting. With daily specials and its steak and chips it is a good excuse like the Chiangmai to break your journey. But don't go there on the 8th May- it is closed!

What's more you can nip off the A40 at junction 18 and back on at 19.

Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French alps

Spring animal fair in Arenthon

Arenthon is a sleepy little village between Bonneville and Geneva in the French alps. But each year it comes out of its skin, a bit like this whole cow which had volunteered itself for roasting.

Each year it has a fair and today was the day when Savoyardes celebrated being Savoyarde, but also invited the rest of France to the party too.

Beasts, beer and bonhomie with Savoyardes doing what they do naturally.

Here making eau de vie, in this case from plum wine.

From winning a piglet by guessing its weight to admiring the Massey Ferguson tractors; to sampling Corsican sausage and ham, Breton oysters, Champagne and locally produced feuillete d'escargot. Something for all.

130 stalls of French produce await you plus the lines of working horses and beef cattle made the village of Arenthon a far from sleepy place on this spring sunday.

Animals galore - goslings, ducklings or rabbit for the smallholding, poney rides. Plenty for kids big or small.

Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French alps