At the Gates of Switzerland, nestled in beautiful Abondance valley, Châtel is a resort with a traditional village atmosphere where you can both enjoy the slopes in the winter, and chill in the summer sun. As part of the 12 Portes du Soleil ski resorts, Châtel is also appreciated for its typical alpine architecture, particularly popular nowadays. In this uncertain mountain real estate market, the future of ski resorts raises many questions. Focus on Châtel, at the heart of our field of expertise.
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Châtel, where traditional charm meets international fame
Châtel is only a 35-minute drive from Thonon and Evian and 90-minutes away from the internal Geneva airport. This small village that once used to live from agriculture made a considerable change in order to become a ski resort on par with the greatest: thanks to its connection to the Portes du Soleil domain, the village has access to 650 km of slopes and to 12 ski resorts, in between France and Switzerland. And that’s not all. Châtel has greatly developed its infrastructures so as to enable tourists to enjoy a variety of activities and to attract a broader clientele. Modern ski-lifts, ski-touring itineraries, snowshoeing trails, a water park, mountain bike trails, family-friendly hiking itineraries, cultural visits, gastronomic and wellness offers, tennis courts, an ice-rink, a zip-line… The list of activities goes on and Châtel can sure hold its own against resorts like Morzine or Avoriaz.
What makes Châtel unique is that the village has kept its quaint, charming authenticity. Nowadays entirely capable of welcoming demanding visitors, families, vacationers looking for a relaxing moment and more athletic people alike, Châtel has yet to drastically increase its hosting capacity. The resort focuses instead on what it does best: a typical alpine architecture, with essentially wooden chalets and gable roofs. The carefully decorated balcony railings are the pride of the locals, and keep on catching the enthralled eyes of the onlookers. Châtel carefully maintains its picturesque appeal, without letting tradition hinder its development.
2. Châtel, an attractive and lively village
Châtel is so much more than a ski resort depending on the winter season to thrive. It is first and foremost a mountain village that managed to profit from its touristy charms and proximity to both Switzerland and Lake Geneva in order to develop a flourishing economic activity all year long. The ‘Famille Plus’ label is proof that Châtel takes great care selecting a number of activities that are suitable for the whole family, and endeavours to welcome young and old in idyllic conditions.
The ‘Flocon Vert’ label shows the particular care the village and its inhabitants demonstrate in the conservation of their environment, for their well-being as well as their visitors’. This label is given to villages involved in favour of sustainable development. Châtel is one amongst 7 resorts in France to have obtained it. The village is intent on preserving its future as a mountain resort, prompted by the climatic emergency, and urged in this endeavour by the pandemic crisis. During the first lockdown, mountain resorts realised that their greatest asset is their natural environment, as well as the freedom and space it grants people. There is an ever-present, overwhelming need of Nature that comes with the evolution of the workplace and travelling restrictions. French people and Europeans re-discover the beauty of their territory. It goes without saying that Châtel has every advantage on that aspect.
3. Châtel, an ideal resort to invest in real estate
Châtel offers the best of both worlds: the perks of big resorts like Morzine and Les Gets, thanks to its connection with the Portes du Soleil ski area and its modern infrastructures, in a preserved environment. Although the real estate market may be growing, the prices remain more attractive than in bigger resorts, making Châtel the ideal place to invest. With prices ranging from €6,000 to €10,000 per m² in Les Gets for instance, there are plenty of great opportunities to seize. And as the resort is getting steadily more renowned, it is still possible to create added value by keeping an eye on the market.
A village close to the Swiss border, easily accessible from abroad by train or by plane, delightfully quaint, and animated all year long; there is something to enjoy here for every season. If you wish to make a purely financial investment, the rental demand keeps on growing and the rental period now extends almost throughout the entire year.
If you are still unsure on whether to invest in Châtel, let our trusted real estate advisors guide you in your project.
