Châtel
Encyclopedia
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.
s.
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.
and sail
ing (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 Fete St Laurent and the Fete Belle Dimanche. St laurent is the patron saint of Chatel and the village assumes a carnival atmosphere with floats and live entertainment. Belle Dimanche is the farmers tribute to the "beautiful sunday" and is held up in the Plaine Dranse up from the ski lift Pierre Long.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
department in the Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in south-eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It is situated in the northern French Alps
French Alps
The French Alps are those portions of the Alps mountain range which stand within France, located in the Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions....
on the French/Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
border and is a popular ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
. Despite its development into a major ski resort, the village still retains many of its traditional alpine characteristics.
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 liftSki lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
s.
The resort is also part of the vast Portes du Soleil
Portes du Soleil
Les Portes du Soleil is a major skisports destination in the northern French alps encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland...
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 windsurfingWindsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
and sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
ing (on nearby Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
), white-water rafting, kayaking, paragliding, walking or simply relaxing in the sun.
More activities also include the Fantasticable, a zip-line
Zip-line
A zip-line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline...
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 Fete St Laurent and the Fete Belle Dimanche. St laurent is the patron saint of Chatel and the village assumes a carnival atmosphere with floats and live entertainment. Belle Dimanche is the farmers tribute to the "beautiful sunday" and is held up in the Plaine Dranse up from the ski lift Pierre Long.