Mad Dog Ski: Ski Resort guidebooks for Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland

Chatel - France

Close to Geneva, Chatel is both a rustic farming village and an increasingly popular ski resort. Located in the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area, the Alpine village of Chatel lies at 1200m on the French-Swiss border.


A wonderfully traditional ski resort, Chatel lies slightly off the beaten track, and tends to be quieter for this reason, making it a popular resort for families and those not craving nightlife that beats into the early hours! Because of its access to the large Portes du Soleil circuit, it is suitable for skiers of all abilities, especially those of an intermediate level.

The ski area itself has 49 runs all of varied terrain, that span over 83kms of piste. The percentage of runs of green, blue, red and black are shown below. For those who want a little more than the usual red, there are five black-level runs that are sure to get the adrenalin pumping!

The resort itself it within easy reach of other resorts on the Portes du Soleil circuit, and these are definitely worth exploring if you have the time. Avoriaz, for example, is a favourite among snowboarders, and if the snow is not particularly good at Chatel, it is worth heading out from the resort to find somewhere of higher altitude and a more snow-sure  area.  

The ski season at Chatel runs from December to April. The most convenient means of reaching the resort is to fly into Geneva Airport and arrange a transfer.
Resort altitude1200m - 1200m
Highest lift2205m
Lowest lift1100m
Kms of piste83kms
No of lifts44
Black pistes10%
Red pistes39%
Blue pistes38%
Green pistes13%
Snow parks4
GlacierNo
Snowmaking632

Map of Chatel - Open

What do you want to do?

Where to stay
Although this is ultimately a French resort, packages from Britain are not hard to find..
Planning your trip
Helping you to plan your trip with information on how to get to Chatel.
On the piste
Chatel sits between two sectors of the main Portes du Soleil circuit.
Food and drink
It's not difficult to find homely establishments that serve up a selection of affordable Savoyard specialities.
Families
With a little planning before you arrive, skiing can be a fantastic family holiday.
Other activities
A few things you can get up to off the slopes in Chatel.
Resort Directory
Sounds boring but here is all the important information from as doctors to dentists, internet to the tourist office.
Webcams and weather
Webcam and weather info

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At a glance - Open



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Snow Report:
Chatel
Report date:8 Jan 2009
Last snowed:6 Jan 2009
Fresh snow:5cm
Lifts open:44 out of 47
Snow depth:
Lower slopes:90cm
Upper slopes:130cm
Piste information:
On-piste:Good
Off-piste:Fresh
Resort runs:Good
Snow conditions:
Great conditions - wax up your skis!
Weather:
Clear skies providing great views