Lots of us have thought about making a big move abroad of late. That’s what two years largely confined to your hometown does to you, we guess. Still keeping the dream alive in 2022? Well, you should know that an entire abandoned village in Canada has just gone up for sale, and it looks incredible.
The hamlet of Edelweiss in British Columbia was built in 1910 for the Swiss guides and mountaineers who had relocated to help tourists traverse the Rocky Mountains. Now totally deserted, the town’s buildings are built in a charming Alpine style, designed to mimic traditional European chalets.
However, it quickly became apparent that the village’s location on top of a wooded hill made the delivery of supplies rather difficult. And so those who were initially drawn to the settlement by the beauty of its surroundings soon started moving out.
By the 1950s, most people had decamped to the nearby town of Golden, leaving Edelweiss empty. And now you can purchase the remaining six chalets for a rather reasonable CAD$2.3 million ($1.8 million, £1.3 million). Helpfully, these aren’t actually the draughty, pre-electric houses they once were: a relative of the original inhabitants has renovated and modernised the buildings, so they’re totally habitable.
Local historians are hoping Edelweiss is bought by someone interested in the heritage of the place, rather than developers. The houses are all named after their original owners, which is a pretty sweet touch. And the best thing? The properties come with 50 acres of land in one of the most beautiful regions in Canada. Dreamy, dreamy stuff.
Tempted to make the big move? Find out more on the Tourism Golden website.
Did you see Brigitte Bardot’s huge former summer retreat is up for sale, too?