Switzerland’s safe, efficient lifestyle and pure alpine air have propelled it to the top of quality of life league tables with its lakes, mountains and cities providing winning choices for international property buyers. However an increasingly crucial factor for those buyers is education and that’s another area where Switzerland scores top marks.

Above: Zurich

Ten years ago the overwhelming majority of potential buyers were primarily focused on the benefits of Swiss taxation says Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Partner and Head of Knight Frank’s Swiss Team. Today, while tax remains of interest, their priorities are personal security, economic stability and education. 

“Switzerland comprises 26 cantons each with different educational options and tax rules so, unlike many other countries, it is crucial that buyers consider both these requirements before they think about specific properties.” he says.

International schools

Above: Lake Geneva

There are international schools in all three main language areas of Switzerland but the French-speaking Lake Geneva area is where most of Knight Frank’s clients choose to focus.

The only international school in the Italian speaking area is an American school in Lugarno but this is also a favourite with Milanese families and is hugely oversubscribed while in the German speaking area the most popular international schools are in Zurich where the favoured lump sum form of taxation was abolished in 2009. 

“Lake Geneva area has always been extremely cosmopolitan with a wide selection of international schools,” says Mr Koch de Gooreynd.  “Families have a lifestyle choice between the city of Geneva, living on the lake or heading to the mountains.”

Lake Geneva’s two highest rated international schools are International School of Geneva (known as Ecolint) and Institut Le Rosey. Ecolint, the world’s oldest international school, has three campuses including ones on either side of Lake Geneva while world famous Le Rosey, with a global roll call of students from royal families and affluent entrepreneurs, is in Rolle on the northern right bank. Le Rosey has the added advantage of a separate campus in Gstaad where the entire school relocates for winter each year.

Above: Gstaad

Geneva’s main bridge across the lake often suffers from heavy traffic making it crucial to consider whether to live on the southern left bank or northern right bank. Most private banks and international companies are on the left bank while the United Nations offices are on the right side towards the Canton of Vaud, closer to Lausanne and Geneva airport.

The right bank offers more flexibility in property style and prices and past Nyon is ideal for those who do not commute daily into Geneva. La Côte for example, close to Rolle, has a pleasing topography of hills and vineyards with houses set well back from the road providing wide lake views and avoiding noise from the motorway, trains and planes flying into Geneva. 

Travel on around the lake to reach the lakeside festival town of Montreux, ideally placed within 50 minutes of both the Alps and Geneva where St George’s British school in Clarens takes boarders and day pupils from 3 to 18 year. Houses along these steeper mountainsides offer yet more exceptional lake views at a much more affordable level than in Central Geneva.

Above: Montreux

In the mountains themselves there is an American school in Gstaad, the new Le Régent College in Crans Montana and an International School in Verbier which has plans to expand to accommodate boarders. The standout mountain location however is Villars where a total of 800 pupils attend three prestigious schools: Collège Alpin Beau Soleil, La Garenne and Aiglon College.

“As well as providing a world-class education, the best international schools encourage people to live there permanently bringing all the benefits of a strong year-round community,” comments Mr Koch de Gooreynd.

Villars, 90 minutes from Geneva airport and 35 from Montreux, topped Knight Frank’s 2019 Ski Index with a 6 per cent price increase last year. Its location on a south-facing plateau above the Rhone Valley looking to Mont Blanc and the Dents du Midi means that even in the class room, the views will always be A Grade.

For further advice on Swiss international school and properties for sale contact Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Head of Knight Frank’s Swiss Network.