Châtel
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Commune of Châtel | |
Location | |
Longitude | 06° 50' 30" E |
Latitude | 46° 16' 03" N |
Administration | |
---|---|
Country | France |
Region | Rhône-Alpes |
Department | Haute-Savoie |
Arrondissement | Thonon-les-Bains |
Canton | Abondance |
Mayor | Philippe Thoule (2001-2008) |
Statistics | |
Altitude | 1,053 m–2,430 m (avg. 1,183 m) |
Land area¹ | 32.19 km² |
Population² (1999) |
1,190 |
- Density (1999) | 36/km² |
Miscellaneous | |
INSEE/Postal code | 74063/ 74390 |
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 mi² or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel). | |
Châtel is a village and commune of the Haute-Savoie département in France. It is a popular ski resort located in the Northern French Alps on the French/Swiss border.
Despite Châtel's development into a major ski resort it still retains many of its traditional alpine characteristics.
Châtel itself 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 8 French and 4 Swiss resorts. This gives skiers and boarders an almost endless choice of runs on their doorstep.
Although famous as a winter destination, Châtel also has activities to offer in summer. Visitors to the area over the summer months can enjoy numerous activities such as windsurfing & sailing (on nearby Lake Geneva), white-water rafting, kayaking, paragliding, walking, mountain biking or simply relaxing in the sun. Nearby towns include Morzine, Avoriaz and Morgins.