Chatel is becoming an increasingly popular year-round destination – not only because of its natural charm, delicious local produce, and stunning scenery but because it makes a perfect base to explore the Chablais region.
Whether you’re looking for a day of culture, shopping, beautiful natural scenery or a fun day with the kids, within a short drive from Chatel there are many great places to explore.
Only 40 minutes from Chatel, Evian sits on the shores of lake Geneva and makes a great day trip for all the family. On a beautiful sunny day there is nothing better than walking along the promenade looking at the boats, and enjoying an ice cream. You can also try the Casino, swimming in the lake, a massage at the Evian Spa or take a ferry across the lake to Montreux or Lausanne.
Only 30 minutes from Chatel, Montreux is a must – particularly in early July when the world famous Montreux festival is on. Originally just for Jazz music, it now features mainstream pop, folk, Motown and rock with artists such as Prince, Ed Sheeran and Pharell Williams on the bill in recent years.
It’s also worth a visit to Chateau Chillon which is Switzerland’s most iconic castle dating back over 1000 years. The castle sits right on the lake just outside Montreux and makes for a great day trip for the whole family.
About 90 minutes from Chatel, Annecy is like nowhere else in the world. Often called the French Venice it’s a lakeside Medieval town with amazing old buildings built over the canals coming off the lake. There are lots of pedestrian streets bussling with people, cafes, restaurants and shops make it a superb day trip destination. After a morning in the town it’s also great fun to hire pedalos down on the lake.
In the next valley from Chatel just below Les Lindarets lies the Goat Village. This is a very cute street of restaurants but also home to a large herd of goats that live here. They are very tame and its possible to buy goat feed which they will eat out of your hand. It’s easy to drive here from Chatel in about 30 minutes and it’s also worth stopping en-route at Lac Montriond – a beautiful mountain lake to make a day of it. Or you can get to the goat village using the chair lifts and a short relatively flat walk from Les Lindarets.
Less than 90 minutes from Chatel, Chamonix is a great day trip. There are some lovely shops and restaurants in the town, but more importantly Chamonix is the home of mountaineering and Mont Blanc – Europe’s largest mountain standing at 4810m. Its definitely worth taking the Aiguille de Midi cable car to the top station at 3842m where there are terraces to take in the spectacular views over the Alps. This is the closest you can get to Mont Blanc and the high mountains without climbing.
Only 35 minutes from Chatel, Lake Geneva or Lac Leman is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe and provides a wonderful landscape for people visiting the area. Not only is it truly stunning with its crystal clear waters and mountainous backdrop but also offers plenty of activities for outdoor people. Sailing, swimming, fishing, waterskiing, paddle boarding and kayaking are all possible and within very easy reach from Chatel.
Holidays are a great time for relaxing and pampering. Within a short drive from Chatel there are two thermal spa centers. Les Bains du Val d’Illiez and Les Bains du Lavey are natural geothermal baths with facilities such as outdoor hot tubs, pools, water fountains, jets and river rapids. They both have great mountain views and areas to book massage treatments etc.
Within a 40-minute drive from Chatel, there are several activity parks for kids. The Labyrinth near Martigny is a great day out for children, based round a large maze. There are also lots of slides, bouncy castles, assault courses and water jets.
The Swiss Vapeur Park at Bouveret is a model railway park with lots of little trains to ride on. The Aqua-park, also at Bouveret, is a traditional water park packed with waterslides, pools, rapids and fun!
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At NINE & TENNE we offer a complementary concierge service to all our guests and are happy to provide you with all the information and local knowledge to make a great day out. For more information about the services we offer and our holidays in Chatel please visit our website or contact us directly.
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