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A small town that’s big on adventure!
The small mountain town of La Bresse in north-east France lies in an idyllic location, being in the very heart of the stunning Vosges National Park. It is a landscape of hills and valleys, complemented by tranquil lakes and rushing streams. The countryside is absolutely unspoiled and provides an exceptional natural environment for the truly spectacular amount of outdoor activities that are on offer here. La Bresse may only boast a population of a little over 5,000, but it offers some of the most extensive outdoor leisure opportunities in France, if not in Europe. For this reason it may be an ideal place to seek a holiday or second home in France, as you and your guests will never be short of something to do!
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Lorraine's gastronomy
The town itself varies in altitude between 600 metres and 1366 metres, and has accommodation to suit all with hotels, B&Bs, and campsites. There are many restaurants too, the region of Lorraine being renowned for its excellent gastronomy, so there is no shortage of great food and wine to be tasted here. La Bresse is also very family friendly, with superb facilities for children.
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All year round activity
Although La Bresse is probably best known as a ski resort there is a lot more to it than the title suggests. The activities on offer in the winter include skiing and especially cross-country skiing. Skiers should note that La Bresse boasts the biggest floodlit ski areas in Europe, allowing skiing to continue from six in the morning right the way through until ten o’clock at night! There is also a snow park (with music!), an international biathlon stadium, a slalom stadium and ice-skating and snowboarding facilities. Children have their own special ski schools, and the younger ones can be cared for in the kindergarten. Meanwhile summer brings its own delights in La Bresse, with hiking, swimming, golfing (and mini-golf for the less serious players) along with fishing, water sports, mountain biking, paragliding and just about anything else you can think of!
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All this and culture too…
La Bresse clearly caters for the brawny and brave, but even if you are more the brainy type you will find something in La Bresse for you. There is an international sculpture festival (Camille Claudel) held every year, based on a different theme each time, and even a Scrabble tournament! There is also an exciting on and off road supermotard event to watch, and on a quieter note, families will enjoy the traditional forest festival.
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How to get there
To reach La Bresse by air you can fly to Basel-Mulhouse, or slightly further afield, Strasbourg. Basel Mulhouse is served by British Airways, Air France and easyJet. Strasbourg is served by Air France. Should you wish to travel by ferry and road, Calais is the nearest port in France. Travelling by train will involve a few connections via Paris, the nearest train station being Remiremont. In 2007 however, a TGV link to the Vosges will no doubt improve things.
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Property prices in and around La Bresse
Generally, the region of Lorraine remains undiscovered by British and foreign property buyers and thus La Bresse remains one of France’s best kept secrets. Nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts could, therefore, be well advised to seek their second home in La Bresse, as prices are very reasonable when compared with many other areas of France. Chalet type properties proliferate, as you would expect in a ski resort, but these can vary in style quite considerably, so take a good look at what is available before making up your mind.
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