Property for sale in Châtel
Nestled in the Abondance valley, Châtel is one of the most charming villages in the French Alps and has seen significant infrastructure investment and high property value growth over the past few years. Active in Châtel for over a decade, our property experts have an intimate understanding of this desirable destination and have watched Châtel evolve into one of Portes du Soleil’s most popular ski resorts for property investment, all while retaining its unique authenticity. Discover the resort for yourself and explore our handpicked selection of properties for sale in Châtel, including super stylish apartments in the best locations, and luxurious chalets with high rental values.
Imelda & Gaby
Serenity
Perle de Savoie
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The View
Why invest in Châtel?
Authentic mountain village
650km of slopes
Dual-season resort
Impressive aquatic centre
Châtel has a diverse offering of ski properties for sale including apartments, chalets and penthouses. In the village centre, you will mainly find new-build ski apartments for sale and two of the best developments here including Serenity and Imelda and Gaby.
Just outside of the village centre, where you’ll find the Forme d’O aqua centre and Lac de Vonnes, there is a good mix of ski apartments and detached chalets, many of which have ski-in access such as Chalets de Vonnes.
Whether you are looking for a ski chalet or a ski apartment for sale in Châtel, all of the properties here are built in a typical chalet-style with sloping roofs and a traditional facade.
In order to preserve the rustic charm that makes Châtel so unique, the town hall limits the number of building permits available and often imposes rental obligations on new-build ski properties, meaning that owners will need to rent out their Châtel ski property for a certain number of weeks throughout the year. These agreements are usually quite flexible and there will be hassle-free, integrated rental management available with hotel-style services, allowing owners to take advantage of the VAT rebate programme.
Whilst a handful of our brand-new ski properties for sale in Châtel have rental agreements in place for some apartments, most of our properties do not.
Once the playground of the few local families whose flocks grazed on the land here during the summer, Châtel has steadily grown as a ski resort by improving its infrastructure and diversifying its offerings to better compete with its siblings in Les Portes du Soleil. Infrastructure improvements include the €13m aquatic centre, Forme d’O, which opened in 2014 and a new ski lift in 2015 which connects Super-Châtel with Linga. In addition, Châtel has gone to great lengths to ensure that it is family-friendly and has even been awarded the prestigious ‘Famille Plus Montagne’ label.
However, as much of Châtel’s appeal is due to its rustic charm, considerable care has gone into protecting its authenticity and Châtel is one of just seven ski resorts to be awarded the ‘Flocon Vert’ label thanks to its commitment to sustainable development.
A small authentic resort within the sprawling Portes du Soleil ski domain, Châtel boasts the best of both worlds whilst offering more competitive prices than the neighbouring resorts of Morzine and Les Gets.
As a resort develops, many fear that it will lose its authenticity. However, this is not the case with Châtel. Acutely aware of the timeless appeal of the village’s Savoyard charm, the town hall is dedicated to preserving the character of the resort. As a result, new plots for development are restricted in the village and many new-build ski properties for sale in Châtel can come with a rental obligation.
An authentic dual-season resort where the summer months are just as lively as the ski season, owning a property in Châtel is a fantastic lifestyle investment for those looking for a home away from home where they can enjoy holidays throughout the year.
Whilst Châtel has matured over the years, properties here are still competitively priced when compared to other resorts in the Portes du Soleil. In Châtel, prices range from €6,000 to €10,000 per sqm whilst prices in nearby Les Gets vary from €8,000 to €13,000 per sqm. Plus, there is still potential for capital appreciation as this resort continues to grow in popularity.
Before skiing became Châtel’s main draw, agriculture was the principal source of income for most of the inhabitants. The farming industry is still thriving today and you will find 30 or so working farms dotted around the vicinity, some of which produce the area’s famous Abondance cheese. Proud of its agricultural roots, Châtel celebrates its farming heritage through the ‘Fête de la Belle Dimanche’ which is held every year in August.
Châtel is one of just a few French ski resorts that have access to a large ski domain while being less than 90 minutes from Geneva Airport. This authentic, family-friendly resort is part of the sprawling Les Portes du Soleil ski domain which boasts 650km of groomed pistes and encompasses 12 resorts between France and Switzerland.
There are two main ski areas, Super-Châtel and Linga, and the 84 local slopes are an intermediate’s dream as 66% of them are blue or red. For advanced skiers, there are six black pistes in the local area and some steeper red runs in the Linga area. Beginners are not forgotten either and there is a good selection of nursery slopes close to the village centre as well as several ski schools.
A wonderful resort for families, Châtel has been awarded the prestigious Famille Plus label and offers plenty of fun activities on and off the slopes. Children will enjoy the animal-themed Milka Purple Piste in Super-Châtel and there is an outdoor ice-skating rink in the village centre for all generations to enjoy.
Active throughout the year, Châtel is a delightful summer destination too with plenty of outdoor activities. For a sporty break, it is worth purchasing the multi-pass which grants access to 22 lifts, Forme d’O aqua centre, the ice-skating rink, tennis and more. You will also get a discount on other attractions.
Mountain bike enthusiasts should check out the Châtel Bike Park which has 20 downhill trails of varying difficulty, a dedicated children’s area and an area for practising stunts and jumps.
The Portes du Soleil is quickly becoming a popular destination for hiking and Châtel is no exception. Many of the lifts are open throughout the summer and there is a great selection of trails to explore including several themed routes for families. Guided hikes are also available.
For an adrenaline rush, take a ride on the Fantasticable. Suspended 240m above the ground this zip line reaches speeds of up to 60 mph and offers a birdseye view of the picturesque scenery.
With 18 years of experience helping clients all over the world purchase a property in the French Alps, we have all the tools and procedures in place to help you invest from the comfort of your own which is especially important at the moment as there are many travel restrictions in place.
Through our office conveniently located in Annecy, which is considered the capital of the French Alps, we are able to offer virtual tours via video calling for those who are looking to buy a property in Châtel and beyond, but are unable to visit at this time. Our Athena Client Relations team are also on hand to ensure that your property purchase goes ahead smoothly and can offer assistance with VAT rebates, setting up your property and liaising with the developer to customise the finishes.