Chatel, Portes du Soleil

Resort altitude: 1053 m

Chatel is situated at the end of the Abondance Valley, just before you reach the Swiss border, and is part of the Portes du Soleil. It is a traditional resort with preserved architecture and no large buildings so fits into the beautiful scenery. Chatel is an hour and 45 minutes from Geneva Airport and a 35 minute drive from Thonon railway station. There is a large farming community and cheese production in the Abondance valley; several of the farms have been there for well over a century. In the Winter and Summer months Chatel has a lively little village centre although out of season you may find it much quieter.

Winter
Chatel is part of the Portes du Soleil which offers skiers 650km of piste. The Châtel ski domain has 47 slopes and consists of two main sectors: Barbossine / Super-Châtel and Linga / Pré-la-Joux, lying between 1100m and 2200m. There is also a wide choice of cross country skiing and for snowshoeing the Abondance Valley and Morgins resorts offer over 80 km of prepared and signed paths.

For non skiers there are plenty of activities such as ice diving, ice climbing, mountaineering and ice skating at the outdoor rink . There are also plenty of activities and snow clubs for children.

Summer
The Chatel mountains are the ideal area for walkers and nature lovers who will discover a world of waterfalls, lakes, forests, valleys and mountain pastures. The local farmers spend the Summer working from their alpine chalets and this traditional way of life is one of the main attractions of this very friendly area. Chatel offers hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing and themed trails.

There is a huge amount of mountain biking accessible from Chatel with permanent downhill trails, a man made biking area and bike park. There are also several other activities such as the fantasticable, paragliding, the bobsleigh run, devilkart and horse riding. There are plenty of watersports available making Chatel great for Summer holidays, there is an outdoor pool in the centre and a lake with a water spring. Off the banks of the Dranse there is a beautiful river running along the bottom of the valley and from the shores of the magnificent Lake Vonnes which is perfect for fishing or taking a pedalo on the lake. Canoeing, hydrospeed, rafting and canyoning also take place on the river.