Châtel

With access to 600 km of slopes, spread across 12 villages in France and Switzerland, the vast Portes du Soleil area offers near-limitless skiing. Châtel’s own pistes lie on the sunny slopes above the village and most are favoured by families and debutants. There’s a lot to be said for skiing here, the Petit Châtel area in particular giving rapid access to the Swiss sector. You’ll also enjoy spectacular scenery, pristine pistes and an infectious, relaxed vibe. The Espace Liberté skipass gives access to the two connected areas of Châtel - Super-Châtel/Barbossine and Linga/Pré-la-Joux, the Corbeau sector of the Swiss resort of Morgins, Torgon (also Swiss) and the nearby French resort of La Chapelle d’Abondance. That’s a total of 130km of pistes and 61 ski-lifts – pretty good value, we’d say.

To access the full Portes du Soleil circuit you can now take the Gabelou 6-seater chairlift for a blue-graded run down to the Linga chair or take the shuttle-bus to Pré la Joux (limited car parking). There’s some satisfying wooded terrain in both areas – great for less confident skiers or for times when visibility higher up is compromised. It’s also just a short hop over to Plaine Dranse and (just a little further on) Les Lindarets – meeting-points for several lifts, so often crowded with skiers moving between Châtel, Avoriaz and across the Swiss border to Les Crosets.

Plaine Dranse and Les Lindarets are also popular lunchtime spots, as they have a choice of lively restaurants and bars. From there it’s an easy lift haul into Avoriaz and onward to Morzine and Les Gets. Alternatively, explore the Swiss side, which offers challenging runs into Champéry or some great intermediate cruising over to Les Crosets, Champoussin and Morgins. You can cover extraordinary distances like this. If that doesn’t appeal, explore the wide choice of runs above Châtel, which often have some of the best snow conditions, thanks to their aspect and tree cover. Finally, a shuttle-bus will drop you at nearby La Chapelle d’Abondance, which has further intermediate skiing, a snowpark and a charm all of its own.

Despite steady expansion, in many ways Châtel remains a classic Alpine village. It lies at the head of a valley, is dominated by a sturdy stone église and has picture-postcard shops and restaurants lining narrow streets. Traditional-style chalets cling to south-facing slopes surrounding the village centre, while more recent developments which have begun to spread over the lower valley slopes have brought quality apartment-style accommodation to an area formerly served mainly by small hotels and individual chalets. Savoyard developer MGM Constructeur is about to complete the final phase of Les Chalets d’Angèle, with a new development planned at Petit Châtel.

As accommodation develops the shuttle bus service is becoming ever more important, and regular and frequent circuits between the village and ski lifts make Châtel an easy place from which to ski, while you leave your car safely tucked away in underground parking. The bus also serves nearby traditional, valley-floor villages of Abondance and La Chapelle d’Abondance, each with its own small ski area and offering various other winter activities including dog-sledding and cross-country skiing.

As a Famille Plus Montagne resort, Châtel provides activities and services for all ages and for skiers with a disability. Mixed-ability groups will find variety on the local slopes, while mile-hungry intermediate skiers can really cover some distance exploring the Portes du Soleil area, both in France and across the nearby border with Switzerland.

Châtel will also suit those who value a traditional Alpine village feel, and independent travellers now have a wealth of quality accommodation options including hotels, apartments and chalets.

Snowboarding

Cross-Country Skiing

Handiski...