Portes du Soleil - Chatel

Not surprisingly it is the most Swiss-like of all the French resorts and is an authentic mountain village, whose combination of tradition and modernism welcomes you in an exceptional setting. At the end of a busy day Chatel’s lively streets offer everyone the chance to enjoy themselves. Shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cinemas and bowling alley, as well as an ice rink, indoor pool, late night skiing, and regular entertainment.

There are 38 working farms which contribute to the village’s economic development and make Châtel an authentic mountain village, which has gradually expanded while still respecting the environment. The hotels, residences and large wood and stone chalets have been built in complete harmony with the mountain style.

Châtels geographical location, in the most northern part of the French Alps, combined with the effects of Lake Geneva, produce a microclimate which ensures optimal snowfall throughout the winter. Nevertheless, to contend with the weathers unpredictable nature and to guarantee snow in certain areas, Châtel has invested in artificial snow-making machines.

View Panoramic view of Chatel in winter

Why Chatel?

 - Part of the extensive Portes du Soleil ski network with local slopes relatively queue-free

 - A traditional feel village within a superb environment

 - A pleasant, lively, French ambience old village with very reasonable prices

 - Easily reached from Geneva and Calais

Follow links below

Childcare in Chatel

The Mouflets crèche

Play with friends, do some gym, puzzles, drawings, doing odd jobs, listen to stories, building snowmen, tobogganing....

A professional team is welcoming your children aged 3 months to 6 years. Meals are prepared on site and numerous activities and games are proposed to children regarding their age. 4 sleeping rooms will welcome the youngsters for siesta.

7 days a week, from 8am to 7pm

Winter 2011/2012 Prices:

Activities in Chatel

A new skating rink for winter 2011/2012!

The new ice rink is a synthetic, auto-lubricating ice rink the maintenance of which requires no addition of product and thus favors the environmental protection.
During school holidays, on Tuesday, you can ski all day long, and continue under the stars as the rink is open.

New: a curling track.

Come and play curling on a special track beside the skating rink.

If good ice conditions, other rink is open on the lake.

For the skating rink admission is for 2 hours. For curling all equipment is provided. Children rates: until 15 years old.

Also at your disposal for free:
- helmets for children
- balls, sweepers and cones

Openings:

During school half terms (Xmas/ New Year & February):

Morning: Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 12:00

Afternoon: Everyday from 02:00 to 07:00

Evening: Tuesday from 20:00 to 22:00 (on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on advance booking only).

Other periods:

Morning: only on advanced bookings

Afternoon: Everyday from 03:00 to 07:00.

Evening: Tuesday on advance booking only.

Under ice diving

Whatever it’s for the first time or that you are already a confirmed diver, you’ll discover new sensations!

In complete safety, with qualified and specialized teachers, you’ll live an experience out of the ordinary! All equipment is provided, open to everyone over 16 years old.
Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from mid-December to mid- March.
Price: €75 per person.

AQUAVENTURE

Phone : +33 (0)6 07 14 95 39

Snowshoe and walking

The circuits

Series of different itineraries, including some across the boarder between France and Switzerland, have been prepared from a one hour stroll to more energetic outings of 4 to 5 hours.

You'll find all the details of those circuits in the snowshoes guide for sale in every tourist board of the valley of Morgins for €2.

Accompanied outings

A full range of half-day or full day outings, for every level, is provided every week by the local operators. So take part of small groups, guided by professionals, and discover the fauna and flora, and the superb views of the area.
Prices winter 2011/2012:

1/2 day outing: from €22 including snowshoes or 16€ without.

1 day outing: €44 including snowshoes or 38 € without.

firm bookings (1 to 12 pers) : from €100 1/2 day outing

night session including meal from €31 per pers. all included.

Try Ecole du Ski Francais, as well as other who provide this.

Lifts for pedestrians

In Châtel some of the lifts can be used by pedestrians as the Super-Châtel and Linga cablecar, the Pierre-Longue and Barbossine chairlifts.

Return ticket available at the lift cashiers at the bottom of the lifts.

Cheese making

A delicious visit, not to be missed:
Annick and Philippe welcome you to their farm, where they explain how they make Abondance ... the famous local cheese. Once you have seen how it is made, you will have the pleasure of tasting it.
Every Thursday morning, during winter season, from 9.15 to 11.15 am. Trip to the farm by shuttle.
30 people maximum.

2011-2012 Prices:

Adults= €5.
Children from 6 up to 12 years old = €2.60
Children under 6 years old= free.

Under ice fishing

Frozen in its shroud of ice, the Lac de Vonnes is full of hidden surprises and thrills. In the depths of winter, you can fish for trout. All you have to do it make a hole in the ice...

Available for children aged from 6 yrs old (They must be accompanied by their parents), this activity is supervised by a qualified instructor. 12 people maximum.

For 2011/2012 winter season the sessions are scheduled as follows until the 27th of March:

every Tuesday from 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. and from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

every Friday from 10:00 to 12:00 a.m.

From the 30th March it'll become simple fishing session, scheduled every Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10 to 12 a.m.
M Alain Klesse: tel. +33 (0)777 371 426.

All equipment is provided, advanced bookings at the tourist board is requested.

2011-2012 Prices :

Adult: €12

Paragliding

ESI Pro Flying

Christophe Lombard

105, route de Vonnes
ESI
74390 CHATEL
Mobile : +33 (0)6 01 53 60

Open to youth and old from 4 years old.
No special physical conditions or experience requested.
It's possible to fly any day of year (regarding weather conditions).

Discovering flight: from €70
Acrobatic option: + €20
Big flight: from €100
Prestige flight: from €160
Photo CD of your flight: €20

The Airboard

Just imagine you lying on an airbag just above the snow.....

The airboard is equipped with edges and goes by positioning the body weight to one side or the other.
Suitable for everyone skiers and non-skiers.

Meeting at the closing of the slopes to go down the 5km of the Pierre-Longue chairlift slope.

Prices:

€20 /person for one descent

(ski pass not included)

Groups (for 1 to 8 people):

1/2 day (4 hours) : €200

1 day (7 hours): €300

Helmet and ski shoes essential.

The Snake-Glisse

Bring all your friends and family along to Pré la Joux and share a crazy, exhilarating experience taking the last chairlift up to Plaine Dranse and then sliding all the way back down the Pré la Joux car park on a customized ‘Snake Glisse’ sledge!

The Yooner

Sat at 20 cms from the ground, Yooner is light, handy, endowed with a shock absorber for more comfort and a skate allowing you “to cut curves " as on skis.
Meeting at the closing of the slopes to go down the Pierre-Longue chairlift slope.

Price:

€20 per person.
Yooner provided. Helmet essential. Ski pass not included.

Bowling

La Vieille Grange bowling alley is open every evening.

There are 4 computerised AMF bowling lanes, pool tables and two bars, with a traditional Savoie-style decor.

The bowling is open from 5pm in winter until late. No advance booking.

Cinema

Châtel's cinema is welcoming you every day during the season...

Programmes include a new film each evening, film premières, exclusives and re-showings of popular films.

Eating Out and Après-Ski in Chatel

Good selection of bars, 60 restaurants (inc. hotel restaurants), shops.

Club - The Sloopy's discotheque is located in the Super-Châtel gondola lift building in the village centre.

During the winter season it's open every night, with 2 clubs (80's and generalist), from 12 p.m. to 5.30 a.m.

Various themed evenings.

Other amenities in Chatel

Doctors, chemist, cinemas, infirmary, masseurs-physiotherapists, dentists, optician, banks, taxis, garages, petrol station, car hire, linen hire, TV hire, food shops, sports shops, clothes shops, craft shops, gift shops, souvenir shops, etc.

All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website

Chatel Tourist Office

Tourist Office

BP.40 – F – 4390

Chatel

Tel: 00 33 450 73 22 44

Fax: 00 33 450 73 22 87

www.chatel.com

In winter:

Sunday to Friday: from 8.30am to 7pm

Saturday: from 8.30am to 8pm

Access to Chatel                    

Driving distance from Calais: 525 miles or 8hrs

By Road:

A6 motorway via Macon followed by the A40 motorway towards Geneva. Exit at Annemasse, Thonon, Châtel.

From Northern Europe, access via the Swiss motorway towards Martigny. Exit Portes du Soleil, 20 minutes from Chatel.

By Rail:

Thonon-les-Bains SNCF railway station (TGV – high speed train) / Transfer by shuttle, 40kms

Monthey railway station (Switzerland) / Transfer by taxi, 25kms.

Access by air:

Geneva-Cointrin international airport / transfer time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

Airports:

Grenoble 82km – www.grenoble.aeroport.fr

Chambery 97 km +33 479 54 49 54 – www.chambery.aeroport.fr

Geneva 188 km +41 22 798 20 00           

Lyon Saint-Exupery 197 km +33 472 22 72 21 – www.lyon.aeroport.fr

Getting around Chatel

Covered Parking (payable) in Chatel

The church's underground car park: 373 parking places (incl. 10 disabled).

Located in the centre of the village, under the church square. During 2011/2012 winter season, from December the 15th until April the 21st, it's open 24h/24 with someone at the office from 8am to 12am and from 2 to 7pm Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday until the 9th April. The rest of the time an automatic system allows you to get in and out. From 9th to 21st April access is free.

A second covered cark park is at your disposal at Petit Châtel at the departure of Barbossine chairlift.

Outdoor car parks

Car parks charged with pay and display machines:

Parking on those areas is charged from 15 December to 30 April everyday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Those areas are located:

in the village center (parking for 2 hours maximum)

on Meurba road (below the church- 8 hours maximum)

Shuttles buses

In winter, Châtel local bus service is operating every day and twice a week in the evening.

Each bus has a well-displayed letter and colour code showing its specific route. On each route bus stop only at precise places.

Day services

From 17.12.11 to 22.04.12. Buses A, C, D, E and I operate from from 8.30am until the slopes close. Buses F and G run to a timetable .

Apres-ski and evening service :

Two buses are running all around the village, from the slopes closing until 8pm.
On Tuesday and Thursday, one bus will operate until 10pm (evening session at the ice rink and evening skiing).

Little train

The little train propose you a complete visit of the Châtel village, its streets, and its majestic chalets built in the traditional architectural style....

One visit allows discovering all the village neighbourhoods without making any effort.

You can catch the train on the church square.

Operating days and hours for winter 2011/2012:

Tuesday and Thursday at : 10h - 11h -12h -14h- 15h.
Tariffs:
Adult: €3
Child (-12yrs old): €1.50
Child (-5 yrs old): free
Groups : €1.50/pers
Guided tour (winter and summer):

All season long, on Tuesday and Thursday morning at 11a.m, the little train will take you for a circuit to discover Chatel village. Departing from the church square for a guided tour around the village to discover Chatel's patrimony and touristic equipments. Advanced bookings a

Horse drawn carriage

Enjoy an other way to discover the village and lake Vonnes, having a tour in a horse drawn carriage.

Monday to Friday, all summer long, several circuits are available:

> Tourist board -Lake Vonnes: at 11 a.m and 3 p.m: €5 per person (on the way up or down).
> Circuit around Lake Vonnes: day time, €3 per person.
>Lake Vonnes - Aity: €7 per person. (return journey)
>Pic-nic circuit: Departure from Lake Vonnes at 12 a.m., €17 per person all included. (on advanced booking only)

Bookings: Michel Dehaye - 0(330)6 78 13 60 46

t the tourist board, charged €3.

Airport Transfer

Pre-book your taxi transfer with Peak Retreats

From Geneva Airport to Chatel.

For all other transfer prices click here

From there you can cross over to Morgins in Switzerland and then towards Avoriaz. The Linga is more for intermediates and more advanced skiers with some of the most interesting runs in the Portes du Soleil. Pré-la-Joux offers the quickest gateway into Avoriaz and also some excellent mogul field in Plaine Dranse. Each area is also linked by a very regular shuttle service.

With the Portes du Soleil handsfree ski pass you are totally free to ski, at Châtel, Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, Saint Jean d’Aulps, Montriond, Abondance and La Chapelle d’Abondance on the French side, and at Morgins, Torgon, Champoussin, Les Crosets and Champéry on the Swiss side.

It extends across two massifs: Super-Châtel / Barbossine and Linga / Pré-La-Joux / Plaine Dranse, and not forgetting the village lifts too.
From Châtel there are direct links to the resorts of Avoriaz, Torgon and Morgins giving you access to the huge Portes du Soleil ski area.

CHATEL PISTE MAP

To see the Les Gets piste map for 11/12 please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

Chatel Individual Tuitions (11/12 prices, NOT pre-bookable)

Individual tuitions can only be purchased directly from the ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these.

Please note that prices are only an indication and are subject to change

Ski school Chatel contact numbers:

Ecole du Ski Francais Chatel  + Tel. 33 (0)4 50 73 22 64

Fax. 33 (0)4 50 73 35 22

info@esf-chatel.com

www.esf-chatel.com

56 route de Vonnes

74 390 Châtel

Skiing / Snowboarding / cross-country skiing

1 or 2 people, price per person:

• 1 hr €38

• 1 hr 30 €57

February holidays

• 1 hr 30 (12.45 - 2.15 p.m.) €65

During group lessons:

• 1 hr €52

Private lessons available for more than 2 people: reservations at office.

Ski Hire Chatel

Chatel ski hire prices start from £37 for children (skis and boots) & £54 for adults (skis and boots) for 7 days. View here for Chatel ski hire prices.

Cross country in Chatel

Nordic facilities in Abondance Valley stretch the length of the Dranse river in 3 resorts: Abondance, La Chapelle d'Abondance and Châtel. The valley is a stone's throw from Switzerland and offers access to the Portes du Soleil downhill network. The valley's nordic area has almost 40km of ski slopes and nordic circuits linked and located between 900m and 1500m.

A Nordic Office is welcoming you on La Chapelle d'Abondance's area for any information, a resting room... Nearby this office few activities are available: biathlon, nordiquepark, sledging run...
For sportives a new black run is also available in La Chapelle.

The ski slopes:

7 slopes are signposted and groomed for both disciplines (skating and traditional)and offer something for all levels:

* 2 green: 2.6 km
* 3 blue: 10 km
* 2 red: 11.4 km

The La Chapelle d'Abondance offers 24 km of ski slopes linked with the nordic circuits of Abondance (7km) and Châtel (9km). Châtel village offers one ski slope, the Corne Noire (2.4km) which makes the link with La Chapelle d'Abodance area.

You can use those circuits on cross-country skiing, walking or snowshoe trekking on 16km. Access to those circuits is free (for the Super-Châtel one you'll have to by a ticket for the lift).

In Abondance:

Boucle d'Offaz : 1km

Richebourg: 5 km

Lac des Plagnes: 1 km

In Châtel:

Les Rebattes: 2 km

Bois de Lune: 1.8km

l'Aity: 2.1 km

Boucle de Vonnes: 1.2km

Boucle de Super-Châtel: 2 km (access by lift charged)

Evening Skiing

Snowsports by moonlight!

Every Thursday from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. (weather permitting), the piste in the Linga stadium is transformed into a sound and light show for you.
Use of the ski tow is free of charge.

Have fun with Rivari!
Hand in hand with Rivari, discover mountain’s wildlife settling thanks to the 7 challenges which mark out this funny trail!

Located close to the arrival of Super-Chatel gondolas.

Suitable for children aged  3 years old and over.

The fun zone

Have a go on this course, which is about 250m long, cordoned off and secured with nets. This is where to come to measure just how fast you can ski, either with a professional ski instructor or on your own ! Both fun and educational, this course is fitted with a timing device that shows skiers their speed on an electronic display.

Snowpark

There are features suitable for all abilities, enabling you to progress and improve in a fun and friendly snowsports zone.
All winter long the snowpark is hosting numerous events, for pros as for amateurs…

The purple Milka trail

This ski-run designed for children but open to everyone is situated in Super-Châtel. The themes are the local mountain flora and fauna and delicious delicacies, all of which children can explore with the help of figurines and explanatory panels dotted along the ski-run. A stimulating combination of learning and tasty local treats.