Le Chablais

The Chablais, postcard of Haute Savoie!

The Chablais region between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc

Close your eyes and let us tell you what you'd see if you were here, right now, in the Chablais.

Whether you're arriving from the resort of Les Gets, travelling up from the shores of Lake Geneva via Thonon or Evian, or arriving from Switzerland via the Morgins pass, you'll always be amazed by the scenery. Long valleys criss-crossed by torrents, chalets and farms scattered along the slopes, villages with no architectural ugliness, forests that climb the mountain slopes almost to the peaks just over 2000m above sea level, give an impression of harmony between Nature and its inhabitants that is disturbed only by the vagaries of the weather. Only the clouds can change the tone of green in summer or white in winter in this region.

Postcard landscapes in the Chablais

The landscapes of the Chablais, along with those of the Beaufortain, are those in France that most closely resemble mountain clichés. The famous Swiss landscape.

In fact, very close to and on the border with Switzerlandthe Chablais region adopts almost the same traditional housing model! Here, wooden chalets come in all sizes... They stand out against the green of the meadows or the white of the snow-covered slopes, their brown color aged by the gentle mountain sun.

But you don't come to the Chablais just to see chalets and pastures!

Although the Chablais is home to major ski areas, and tourists come here from all over Europe, this region has nevertheless managed to retain its authenticity and traditions in each of its valleys.

Châtel and the Vallée d'Abondance

The Vallée d'Abondance offers you the traditional agricultural version of the mountain, with cheese as its flagship product, as well as a sporting version, with cross-country skiing at La Chapelle d'Abondance, mountain biking at Châtel and, of course, the entrance to the Portes du Soleil cross-border ski area, which takes you from Châtel to Les Gets, via Champéry and Avoriaz. One of the world's largest ski areas. In summer, don't miss the walks around the picturesque Lac des Plagnes, reached via a side valley from the village of Abondance.

Morzine and Avoriaz

Morzine's Dranse Valley and all the surrounding resorts: Saint Jean d'Aulps, La Côte d'Arbroz, the fantastic Avoriaz, and of course Les Gets, whose pass separates the Chablais from the Faucignyoffer an international mountain sports experience. The renown of these resorts in the heart of the Portes du Soleil makes them a popular destination for many European countries. But that doesn't mean you can't discover some of the region's historical and, above all, architectural sights.

In summer, walks to Lac de Montriond, the goat village of Lindarets and access to panoramic peaks such as Hauts Forts and Roc d'Enfer inoculate you with the mountain virus that will stay with you for the rest of your life. And I know what I'm talking about: this is where I got it! (And this will be the only personal note from the founder of alpaddict in the entire website!)

The mountains of Lake Geneva

Last but not least, what can we say about the pre-Alpine region bordering Lake Geneva? The Vallée Verte and the Pays Gavot, with the resorts of Les Habères, Les Brasses and Bernex, mark the border between the Pays du Lac Lémanand the beginning of the high mountains of Haute-Savoie. Ideally placed to take advantage of the presence of the lake, of a magnificent city like Geneva, and of the rolling hills that offer beautiful Alpine scenery, all the way to the Aravis or to Mont BlancThese destinations offer a gentle alpine experience. Bernex, in particular, occupies a beautiful site at the foot of the Dent d'Oche, the emblematic summit of the Chablais region. Nearby, you can ski at Thollon les Mémises, almost with your feet in the lake!

The nearby Chablais region offers a wonderful alpine escape.

Discover this region by reading the following articles from the AlpAddict blog!

Discover the Chablais region on video

The best webcams in the Chablais

(click on the village name)

• Avoriaz the resort live!
• MorzineMorzine valley and Roc d'Enfer seen from Avoriaz
• Lake Montriondfollow the colors of the lake through the seasons!
• Les Gets: A breathtaking view of the village of Les Gets, the Chavannes plateau and Mont Blanc.
• ChâtelA view of the village and valley. Ideal for getting an idea of what's in store for your vacation.

Activities not to be missed in the Chablais region

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