Chatel Ski Resort, France

Overview

Chatel is one of our newest French resorts which you'll find close to the Swiss border. The resort is nestled in a valley surrounded by trees and is particularly scenic during the winter months after being iced with a layer of snow.

Chatel is exactly what you might imagine from an alpine ski resort - with traditional architecture as well as various chapels and churches. The first lift in the resort (The Vonnes drag lift) was built in 1947 and since then the resort has grown and also become part of the massive Portes du Soleil ski area. Being part of the Portes du Soleil ski area means you have the opportunity to explore a vast amount of terrain including through some well known resorts such as Avoriaz and Morzine.

If flying the closest airport is Geneva and then you just have a 1 hour 30 (approx) transfer. This is an added bonus for those travelling with children who may be restless after the flight. You could alternatively self-drive to the resort from the UK which would take around 12 hours (estimate from London). If you were to self-drive you could use this to visit other places on the way, such as Strasbourg or Colmar if going via the A4 and A35. Or Dijon or Paris if going via other highways.

3 Things We Love About Chatel

1. Family-oriented resort, with a good variety of non-ski activities from sledging and bowling to paragliding and a laser show.
2. Rapid links to Avoriaz and the rest of the massive Portes du Soleil area, with its 650km of piste.
3. Classic Savoyard village that is located on the border with Switzerland, allowing you to ski both countries in a day.

Learn more about Porte de Soleil

Skiing and Boarding in Chatel

When visiting Chatel you won't be short of ski runs as the resort is part of the Portes du Soleil ski area. This means with the full area lift pass you'll have access to an impressive 650km of terrain. As well as venturing out into the full area there's variety of runs close to the resort which would be well suited to beginners or for those looking to slowly work your way up to mass exploration.

Chatel Ski Area

The Chatel ski area will provide you with 45 slopes, accessible via 42 lifts. This includes 9 green, 15 blue, 15 red and 6 black runs, therefore great for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. There is also a snowpark and should the snow be a bit thin then there are 295 snow cannons to top it up.

Portes du Soleil Ski Area

The Portes du Soleil Ski Area is directly linked to Chatel providing 306 runs to enjoy. These include 38 green, 131 blue, 105 red and 38 black. There are also 10 snowparks and 1535 snow cannons throughout the entire area.

Activities in Chatel

As well as skiing and snowboarding there are various other non-ski activities to enjoy, including:

• Sledging areas - A fun activity perfect for families, and available for those 2 years and older.
• Paragliding - Enjoy epic views of the mountains through an exhilarating tandem flight.
• The Fantasticable - Another activity for those adrenaline seekers, The Fantasticable takes you flying through the air at up to 60mph face first on a zip line.
• Hikes and snowshoeing - Explore the mountains at a more casual pace through guided snowshoe hikes, or by following various trails and circuits.
• Bowling - A fun activity for groups - test those bowling skills and see who gets the most strikes.
• Wellness - For those looking for more exercise or general wellness then head to one of the spas in the village, or the Forme d'O/Aqua-fitness center.

Après Ski in Chatel

• Le Chaudron Bar - Offering a range of fun activities as well as drinks, here you'll find bowling lanes, table football, pool tables and a big screen for watching sports.
• Bar La Godille - Serving a selection of wines and beers.
• Bar Pub l'Avalanche - A lively and friendly bar with a great atmopshere.
• Bar L'1solite - Open late so a good place to end the evening - also offering live music and karaoke.
• Bar le Poste Frontière - Offering a warm atmosphere with a range of beers, wines and cocktails on offer.

Places to Eat in Chatel

• Fleur de Neige - A Michelin star restaurant serving French cuisine.
• La Perdrix Blanche - Offering classic dishes including raclette, tartiflette and fondue.
• La Bocca - A pizzeria, but also offering French and mediterranean cuisine.
• Le Chalet - Serving vegetarian and vegan dishes, as well as French regional cuisine.
• Le Fiacre - Offering pizzas as well as meat dishes such as steak.

Family Ski Options in Chatel

• C L'Aventure Châtel - A fun indoor playground open from noon until 6pm. Complete with a ball pit, slides and other fun things for the kids to do.
• Daycare and babysitting - Available through Châtel Childcare and with English speaking Nannies. Another option is Les Lutins des Neiges children's reception centre, which caters for younger children from 2.5 years to 4 years old.
• Club des Petits Montagnards - A club catering for children aged 4-8 years and offering both indoor and outdoor activities to keep the kids busy. Also works well with your kids having lessons in the morning as they can pick your kids up and look after them in the afternoon.
• Rentals - Fancy not taking a cot, high chair or buggy with you? Then you can also hire these in resort. Visit en.chatel.com/baby-goods-useful-numbers for more information.