High in the mountains, right next to the Swiss border, and not far away from Lake Geneva, lies a charming little Alpine village called Chatel. Thankfully, despite the tourist boom over the last few years, it retained its classic Alpine vibe. In Châtel, you won’t find many things to do, but those that the village can offer will leave you with great memories. From relaxing in traditional chalets and exploring village streets to admiring scenic views and being active on trails or slopes, Chatel for sure will please every traveler. Keep reading and discover the best things to do in Chatel, France.
Interesting fact. Châtel became a popular destination around the 50s’ when former Olympic ski champion, Roland Macchi, chose this then-unknown village as the place for a ski school. Not long after, in 1953, the first of many ski lifts in the area, Super Chatel, was installed.
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Chatel, France FAQ
Chatel is located in eastern France in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The village can be found in the Northern French Alps, right next to the Switzerland border, and near Lake Geneva.
Chatel is famous for being a world-class ski resort as well as a beautiful village in the French Alps full of traditional charm and magnificent scenery.
Chatel sits on an altitude of 1053m a.s.l.
If you are a skiing enthusiast, you must visit Chatel during the winter months. But warmer months will be much better if you prefer activities like hiking, mountain biking, or paragliding.
Things to do in Chatel village
Streets of Chatel village
While in Chatel center, take a nice slow stroll around the village streets. There aren’t many of them, so it won’t take too much of your time. Admire traditional chalets and spectacular views over the Alps on every step, visit small craft shops, buy delicious Abondance cheese, and eat dinner in one of the cozy restaurants.
Among Chatel streets you’ll find places of interest like Old Customs House, Saint-Laurent Church, and Tourist Office.
Old Customs House
One of the best things to do in Chatel is to visit the Old Customs House (fr. La Vieille Douane). Inside, you’ll learn about the game of cat and mouse that happened between the smugglers and the customs officers (gabelous) across the border between France and Switzerland. All is very richly documented and presented in a friendly, illustrated way.
Entrance to Old Customs House costs €4.5 for adults and €3.5 for children (July 2026). The museum is closed on Saturdays and Mondays. For current prices and opening hours, visit the chatel.com website.
Saint-Laurent Church
If you’re a church person – you can also visit the village parish church, Saint-Laurent Church (fr. Église Saint-Laurent de Châtel). It dates back to 1908 and is classified as a Historical Monument. Right next to it, you’ll also find a cemetery with unique ornaments commemorating the dead.
Summer activities in Chatel
In summer, Chatel turns into a popular destination for biking, hiking, and paragliding enthusiasts. Here are some ideas you can choose from.
Chatel’s Bike Park – a place dedicated to MTB lovers. It offers 20 tracks, adapted to all levels. There are also lifts for cyclists, open from June to September. On chatel.com you can check the details, as well as the pass prices.
Is hiking something that you prefer? There are many hiking trails in the area to choose from! You can check them out on alltrails.com or komoot.com.
Your other option for discovering Chatel is to try paragliding with qualified instructors. You can choose from 3 offers, which mostly vary by flight duration and altitude. To learn more about options and prices visit chatel.com website.
Another amazing thing to do in Chatel in summer is to try Fantasticable, a zipline that offers an unforgettable flight over Plaine-Dranse, at a height of about 240m, with a speed of almost 100 km/h. The Fantasticable operates all the summer, from +- the middle of July to the middle of September, and it’s available to anyone whose weight is between 35-120kg. To learn more about Fantasticable, visit chatel.com website.
Winter activities in Chatel
Skiing enthusiasts will love Chatel during winter. Since the 1970s Châtel has been part of Portes du Soleil – a popular French-Swiss ski domain. Chatel ski resort extends across Super-Châtel / Barbossine and Linga / Pre la Joux / Plaine Dranse sectors linked together with Portes du Soleil and Gabelou chairlifts.
In Chatel you can choose from two Ski Passes:
- Châtel Liberté Ski Pass – it covers slopes in Châtel
- Portes Du Soleil Ski Pass – it covers all of the 12 resorts of the Portes du Soleil ski area
For more information and current Châtel Ski Pass prices visit the chatel.com website.
How to get to Chatel, France?
Chatel is located about 10km from Abondance, 45km from Geneva, 85km from Annecy, and 110km from Chamonix. The most convenient way to get to Chatel is by car or by bus.
Where to park in Chatel?
There’s a big underground parking lot located in the village center, right next to the church. It’s free from the end of April to the 28th of June and from the 1st of September to the start of the winter season in mid-December. To check current dates and information about other parking lots located a bit further visit mairie-chatel.com website.
To Chatel by public transport
Unfortunately, there is no train station in Chatel. The closest ones are in towns located on Lake Geneva’s shores, like Evian or Thonon (about 40km away). From Thonon, you can take a bus to Chatel. Or from either of them, take a taxi to arrive at the village. To check current bus schedule, visit the en.chatel.com website.
Campings in Chatel
If you’re traveling by camper, L’Oustalet camping might interest you. It’s located on the outskirts of Chatel village.
Things to do in Chatel Alpine Village – Summing up
Chatel is such a lovely tiny French Alpine village, isn’t it? If you are an active, sports person you definitely won’t be disappointed with your visit. Just take your bike, ski, or hiking shoes and enjoy the area no matter the season. If you’re not up to practicing sports and just need a quiet and picturesque place to relax – you’ll be pleased with Châtel too.
Our opinion about Chatel
For us, a visit to Chatel was a day trip from Thonon-les-Bains where we lived for a few weeks. Actually, we visited it after completing a wonderful hike in the Abondance. We visited the village in late May and it was extremely sleepy and quiet back then. We came across only a few other tourists, maybe 10 at best.
Even if we didn’t spend much time there, around 2 hours in total, we really liked it. Beautiful surroundings, stunning views, cute Alpine buildings… We think that Chatel village is a great place to which we’ll come back one day with pleasure. Oh, and it reminded us a lot about our beloved Zakopane and Tatra Mountains in Poland!
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Chatel?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Chatel:
