Cosy ski chalet in Chatel, close to the village center and ski lift

About Chatel

Picturesque Chatel offers just about everything you could want from your winter holiday. The village of Chatel has retained its traditional savoyarde atmosphere while offering access to one of Europe s biggest ski areas, Les Portes du Soleil. Lying right on the border with Switzerland, the Swiss influence can be seen everywhere. Traditional chalets, many of which are still working farms, make up much of the village and more recent developments have been sympathetic to retaining its character.

The Portes du Soleil ski area offers 650km of pistes, 275 lifts and 14 resorts in two countries, all on one lift pass! From the gentle tree-lined runs in the Linderets valley to the famous Swiss Wall (regarded as the steepest black run in Europe), traditional alpine villages and the unique modern resort of Avoriaz, the Portes du Soleil really does have something for everyone. The area is so vast that even after many seasons skiing and / or boarding here you will still find new areas to explore. The Chatel valley has some of the best runs in the whole area with the great reds and blues between Linga and Pre La Joux which hold the snow and remain relatively uncrowded all through the season.

Activities near Chatel

In the centre of Chatel you can find a variety of shops selling local foods & wines as well as arts & crafts and essential ski & snowboard equipment. The weekly market offers a chance to pick up some savoyarde specialties from local producers such as the Abondance cheeses which are unique to the valley.
In the evenings Chatel's two main bars Le Tunnel and l' Avalanche feature live bands and theme evenings, while just down the road in La Chapelle Le Feu Rouge boats its own micro brewery serving local real ales or Frasses. Nightlife is generally a very laid back affair with a friendly atmosphere and a mix of nationalities. Prices are also refreshingly low compared to some of Frances larger purpose built resorts. The village also has 2 cinemas, a bowling alley, an open air ice rink and night skiing is possible one night a week on the Linga pistes.