Paris, France © Panoramas

Châtel is a ski resort in the northern French Alps, a stone's throw away from Switzerland. The village was established by monks in the 5th century, and became famous for its cheese, sausages, and woodcarvings. The town has manages to preserve much of its charm and traditional Alpine characteristics.

The town centre contains a number of restaurants serving both traditional French cuisine and standard pizza and takeaway fare; there are also plenty of shops selling ski equipment, souvenirs, and specialty regional foods. Although the nightlife isn't world-renowned, there are four or five lively bars, including a late-night bowling alley, a cinema, and a nightclub.

Skiing in Châtel is a pleasure for all levels, with 49 pistes and 31 miles (49km) of cross-country trails. There is also a terrain park for snowboarding. Châtel is part of the Portes du Soleil area of linked ski resorts, with over 250 miles (650km) of terrain.

There are also many summer activities at Châtel, including hiking, mountain biking, white-water rafting, kayaking, paragliding, or sailing and windsurfing on nearby Lake Geneva.

The nearest airport to Châtel is at Geneva and the nearest train station is at Monthey. The AOMC bus runs from Monthey to Morgins and Châtel, alternatively there are taxis and car hire facilities in Monthey.