Châtel, Haute-Savoie

Châtel
A general view of Châtel A general view of Châtel
Coat of arms of Châtel Coat of arms
Châtel
Location within Rhône-Alpes region Châtel
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Haute-Savoie
Arrondissement	Thonon-les-Bains
Canton	Abondance
Government
• Mayor (2008–-)	Nicolas RUBIN
Area1	32.19 km2 (12.43 sq mi)
Population (2006)2	1,282
• Density	40/km2 (100/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	74063 / 74390
Elevation	1,053–2,430 m (3,455–7,972 ft) (avg. 1,183 m or 3,881 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Châtel is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

It is situated in the northern French Alps on the French/Swiss border and is a popular ski resort. Despite its development into a major ski resort, the village still retains many of its traditional alpine characteristics.

Geography

Nearby French towns include pretty La Chapelle-d'Abondance, Abondance, Morzine, Avoriaz, and the Swiss town of Morgins.

Ski

Châtel has an extensive ski area with runs to suit skiers and boarders of all abilities. The whole village is served by a free ski-bus which gives easy access to ski lifts.

The resort is also part of the vast Portes du Soleil domain - the largest international linked ski area in the world with over 650 km of varied terrain spread across eight French and four Swiss resorts. This gives skiers and boarders an almost endless choice of runs on their doorstep.

Summer activities

Although famous as a winter destination, Châtel is also a very popular mountain bike resort with the ski lifts opening between June and September for cyclists. Other attractions over the summer months include numerous activities such as windsurfing and sailing (on nearby Lake Geneva), white-water rafting, kayaking, paragliding, walking or simply relaxing in the sun.

More activities also include the Fantasticable, a zip-line extending between two mountain peaks, spanning the valley of Pre-la-Joux, over the ski lifts and the restaurants at Plaine Dranse. It is only active during the summer season.

In August Chatel celebrates both the Fête de la St Laurent and the Fête de la Belle Dimanche. St Laurent is the patron saint of Châtel and the village assumes a carnival atmosphere with floats and live entertainment. La Belle Dimanche is the farmers tribute to the "beautiful sunday" and is held up in the Plaine Dranse up from the ski lift Pierre Longue.

External links

• Chatel Tourism Website