About Chatel

A ski town in Portes du Soleil ski area of the Northern French Alps, Chatel, is located in France’s Haute-Savoie department and in the Rhone-Alpes area bordering swiss. The famous ski resorts accommodate all individuals with ski hire in Chatel. In the year 2000 the town’s population was 1,190 and remains surrounded by its neighboring towns Avoriaz, Morzine and Morgins. The lively town is in an area filled with mountains and valleys such as the Abondance valley. Nearby the town is Lake Vonnes with its beautiful setting in winter or summer, traditional farms and its famous ski resorts.

The village still participates in traditions of producing arts and crafts as well as farming activities in the mountains. In the Abondance valley one can delight in the local craft of carving. The most popular is turning two chunks of wood into a lace-winged dove. This tradition has been handed down father to son for many generations.

After spending a day at the slopes with one's Chatel ski hire relax around the town by admiring the sites. Churches and chapels are worth seeing in their architectural brilliance with over 70 oratories and 20 chapels. Chatel’s little chapel St. Laurent church was the first Chatel chapel constructed in the 1500s and called “the big castle chapel.” In this time period the chapel was dependant upon La Chapelle d’Abondance but later in 1643 became its own parish. This chapel was dedicated to the three saints St. Laurent, St. Jean-Baptiste and St. Theodule. As the population grew new chapels were built.

Show sights

Chatel is in the center of Portes du Soleil surrounded by several other ski resort towns and right next to Switzerland making traveling around a plus. Winter activities include skiing well known slopes where one may ski hire or bring their own skis. Other activities include winter sports and enjoying the area’s frosty look. In the summer one can enjoy Chatel’s countryside by hiking, mountain biking, white-water sporting, swimming, paragliding, pastoral and cultural activities, village parties, shows, kayaking and more.

Sightseeing involves many local chapels and also nearby medieval towns including Yvoir. One might like to hit a spa at one of the close towns like Geneva, Evian and Thonon. Chamonix and Mont Blanc are nice relaxing day trips. Thonon is on the water so one can enjoy the atmosphere while also dining in a restaurant of excellent seafood.

Show destinations

Lake Vonnes makes for a fun excursion with a gorgeous background either in the summer or winter. La maison du val is an eco-museum that should be visited to taste the area's finest cheese and learn its history. Ski resorts make great daily activities. Since resorts have readily available ski hire it is not necessary to lugg one's ski set around on vacation. The architecturally devine Notre Dame Abbey is a great destination while visiting around Chatel's stone and wooden alpine chalets and their balconies carved in a traditionally fashionable style. Take an excursion with a natural touch to the valley in between the Chablais mountains and lake Geneva. Create a day of excitement by going to the Fantasticable zip-wire ontop the Rochassons ski lift.