Activities
winter: Skiing
From the apartment,
it is a short walk to the ski lift in La Chapelle or, you can
take the ski bus (approx every 10 min) to La Chapelle or Chatel
and connect with the vast Portes du Soleil ski area. To see the
ski maps (pdf) click
here
Cross Country
Skiing
If you prefer
cross country skiing or, a walk in the forests on snow shoes,
then there are courses from 5-35 kms trails which connect with
Chapelle and Chatel.
Activities
summer: In the summer months, visitors can participate in activities
ranging from road cycling and mountain biking to paragliding,
or take advantage of the leisure facilities that include a swimming
pool and tennis courts. Tour De France climbs nearby are La Clusaz
- Col du Aravis (101 km), Le Grand Bornand - Col de la Columbiere
(77 km), and Samoens - Joux Plane (57 km) (http://perso.orange.fr/l.maison/jouxplane/english.htm).
However, all of the local roads provide challenging rides for
even the most experienced road cyclists and a 'triple front' is
a necessity !
Mountain
Biking and Leisure Cycling
In the summer,
the cross country ski trails are used by mountain bikers, walkers
and runners, who all enjoy some of the most picturesque areas
of the Haute Savoie region. If you prefer cycling down mountains
rather than pedalling up them, then you can take the lifts up
and enjoy the thrills of downhill mountain biking. If you don't
want to bring your own bike, then there are many places to hire.
Climbing,
Parapenting
The more adventurous
visitors can indulge in climbing on "La Via Ferrata des Saix
de Miolène", which is near the centre of the village.
If that doesn't get enough adrenaline flowing, then how about
paragliding ? This way you can view the region from the air !
Of course, you will be accompanied by an expert instructor - no
one expects you to launch off yourself without some instruction
!
Paragliding
There are many flying sites in the local area of La Chapelle and
Chatel. There are also excellent paragliding schools in Annemasse,
Morzine and Mieussy. Avoriaz, Les Gets, Samoens, Flaine and Le
Grand Bornand can all be reached in less than an hour . Chamonix
is reached by motorway in 1 to 11/2 hours.
 
Water Sports
Chatel has
its own municipal heated outdoor pool (Piscine de Châtel
tél. 04 50 73 21 24).
The pool is very popular and provides a safe and fun area in which
children & adults can enjoy the sunshine after a hard day's
cycling or walking. There is excellent fishing available in the
whole Haute Savoie area and for the really serious water and mountain
lovers there is gorge walking/climbing/descending !
Overall, the
area has something for everyone, both winter and summer. Of course,
the links with the Portes du Soleil ski area make Abondance, La
Chapelle d'Abondance and Chatel very attractive, without the excessive
costs of staying in the Morzine/Avoriaz area.
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