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Châtel

A village resort on the French-Swiss border, linked to Morgins (Switzerland): 120 km of pistes in its own ski area, the Espace Liberté, a Nordic ski area at La Chapelle d'Abondance, and access to one of the largest international ski areas in the world.

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The Châtel ski area in the Portes du Soleil
Niels Mickers · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Price
Châtel adult day pass €55 (Espace Liberté) · Portes du Soleil €69 · season €546
Best season
Winter (skiing) · a lively resort all year round
Parking
Paid car parks with ticket machines (paid periods 15 December–30 April and 1 July–31 August, every day): Centre car park (limited to 1h30, paid 8:00–19:00); Meurba car park below the church (limited to 9h, paid 8:00–19:00); Etringa car park at the aquatic centre (limited to 5h, paid 8:00–midnight). Car parks with a subscription: Lac de Vonnes and Etringa (15 Dec–30 Apr) — Vonnes 1 day 10€/week 35€/season 80€; Etringa season 135€. Zones limited to 5 min–2h in the village centre and at Lac de Vonnes. 23 spaces reserved for CMI holders spread across the car parks. Payment: cash, card, contactless, Flowbird app.
Altitude
Altitude not provided here — see the official website
Wheelchair access
Accessible · Skiers with disabilities and reduced mobility can use most of the lifts with their equipment. Accessible lift offices and car parks with free spaces: Lac de Vonnes (equipped office, 3 spaces), Petit-Châtel (2 spaces), Linga (2 spaces, direct lift access), Pierre-Longue (equipped office, 3 spaces), Pré-la-Joux (2 spaces). Accessible toilets and picnic areas at Pré-la-Joux, Plaine-Dranse, Linga and Petit-Châtel. List of authorised sit-ski equipment available for download. Lift pass discounts: 50% (CMI disability card, + companion) / 20% (parking/priority card). Source: Châtel — Site officiel (Domaine skiable accessible / handi)

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Price

Adulte 1 jour Espace Liberté (Châtel)
55,00 €Plein tarif haute saison (19 déc. 2026 – 08 janv. 2027 et 06 févr. – 05 mars 2027) ; pré-ouverture 47 € sur internet jusqu'au 19 décembre 2026 ; basse saison 47 € du 20 mars au 18 avr. 2027
Enfant 1 jour Espace Liberté
41,00 €Plein tarif haute saison ; pré-ouverture / basse saison 35 €
Jeune/Senior 1 jour Espace Liberté
50,00 €Plein tarif haute saison ; pré-ouverture / basse saison 42 €
Adulte 1 jour Portes du Soleil
69,00 €Plein tarif haute saison ; basse saison 59 € du 20 mars au 18 avr. 2027
Forfait Saison Espace Liberté adulte
546,00 €Valable toute la saison hiver 2026/2027, -25 % en pré-ouverture ; Enfant : 410 € — Jeune/Senior : 491 €
Forfait Saison Portes du Soleil adulte
1085,00 €Valable toute la saison hiver 2026/2027 ; prix pré-ouverture 977 € (-25 %) disponible jusqu'au 30/09/2026 ; Jeune/Senior : 976 €

What is Châtel

Châtel is a village resort in the Portes du Soleil, on the French-Swiss border, linked in particular to Morgins (Switzerland). The village has kept its Savoyard character while providing access to one of the largest international ski areas in the world.

Its own ski area, the Espace Liberté, has 69 pistes and 120 km of skiing served by 56 ski lifts, spread across several linked sectors: Linga, Pré-la-Joux, Super-Châtel — accessible via the Super-Châtel gondola, which has its own page —, Torgon and La Chapelle d'Abondance. The Linga sector offers nearly 800 m of continuous vertical drop and one of the largest snowparks in France, with a fun 3,7 km green run featuring 20 features. Beyond the Espace Liberté, Châtel gives access to the whole Portes du Soleil international ski area, presented by the official website as one of the largest ski areas in the world with 600 km of pistes, 308 runs and 209 ski lifts spread across 12 French-Swiss resorts.

For cross-country skiing, the La Chapelle d'Abondance area offers 21,8 km of daily-groomed trails, spread across 5 routes of different levels for skating and classic technique, with biathlon, a Nordic Park and a sledging area.

Off the slopes, the resort offers the Forme d'O aquatic centre, the Fantasticable zip line, the Châtel 1600 tree-top adventure course and trails along the Dranse, rounding out a stay all year round.

Activities

What you can do here

Practical

Practical information

Massif / Area
Portes du Soleil — own ski area Espace Liberté (Linga, Pré-la-Joux, Super-Châtel, Torgon, La Chapelle d'Abondance sectors)
Altitude
Not provided here — see the official website
Alpine skiing
69 pistes · 120 km (Espace Liberté)
Ski lifts
56
Cross-country skiing
La Chapelle d'Abondance — 21,8 km groomed daily (5 routes, biathlon, Nordic Park)
Access / Shuttles
Genève ~70 km, Thonon-les-Bains ~40 km; free village shuttle in winter and summer (dates to be confirmed)
Commune
74390 Châtel
Getting there
Free shuttles serving the whole village of Châtel (winter from 19/12/2026 to 18/04/2027 every day; summer from 29/06 to 30/08/2026, line 2 from 4 July). All buses are equipped with ramps for wheelchair access. Connections: Châtel – Thonon/Evian bus and ColomBus – Line C. Real-time schedules via the Pysae app (QR codes at the stops). Nearest SNCF station not specified on these official pages.
Access

How to get there

By car

From France, take the motorway exit at Annemasse, then head towards Thonon and the Abondance valley. From Switzerland, take the Monthey exit (Portes du Soleil) then head towards Morgins. Approximate distances: Genève 70 km, Thonon-les-Bains 40 km, Paris 600 km. Winter tyres or snow chains required from November to March.

The nearest railway stations are Thonon-les-Bains or Evian-les-Bains on the French side (~45 min) and Aigle or Monthey on the Swiss side (~30 min). Locally, a free shuttle serves several fixed stops in the village, in winter (19 December to 18 April, dates to be confirmed) and in summer (29 June to 30 August 2026).

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When to visit

When to visit

Winter for skiing (Alpine and cross-country); the resort is also lively in summer (hiking, mountain biking, outdoor activities)
Winter

Winter season

Winter access window
Open (cleared road)
Winter infrastructure
Nordic skiing · Cross-country skiing · Sledging
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby

Where to eat, drink, stay

A bakery, a shop in Châtel?

Share hours and specialties with visitors of Châtel.

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Photos

Gallery

Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Châtel part of the Portes du Soleil ski area?

Yes. Châtel is a village resort in the Portes du Soleil, on the French-Swiss border, linked in particular to Morgins in Switzerland. Its own ski area, the Espace Liberté, gives access to the whole international ski area.

How many kilometres of pistes are there at Châtel?

Châtel's own ski area, the Espace Liberté, has 69 pistes and 120 km served by 56 ski lifts. Within the Portes du Soleil ski area, the official website advertises 600 km of pistes across 12 French-Swiss resorts.

How can I get to Châtel without a car?

The nearest railway stations are Thonon-les-Bains or Evian-les-Bains on the French side (~45 min) and Aigle or Monthey on the Swiss side (~30 min). A free shuttle then serves several fixed stops in the village.

What is there to do in Châtel besides skiing?

The resort offers the Forme d'O aquatic centre, the Fantasticable zip line, the Châtel 1600 tree-top adventure course and trails along the Dranse, for an off-slope family stay.

Featured in our selections
The best family ski resorts in Haute-Savoie
Sources

Sources & verification

Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.

Published 16 juillet 2026·Updated 20/07/26

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