Abondance is a small French village located in the Haute-Savoie region, on the banks of the Drancy River.

The village is one of the 12 resorts included in the Port du Soleil ski area, which unites 266 trails with a total length of 650 km.

Abodansu has had its ups and downs – in 2007, the resort was closed due to melting snow and snow avalanches caused by global warming, and therefore ceased to be popular with tourists and eventually went bankrupt. But already in the 2009-2010 season, the Abondance resort regained its lost glory and today firmly occupies a place in the line of Port du Soleil resorts.

History of Abondance

Abundance was founded ten centuries ago by Augustinian monks who came to this area from neighboring Switzerland. Before the appearance of skiers on these slopes, the clergy, farmers and cows grazed alone reigned here. Spotted red and white cows brought world fame to the region – their milk had a unique taste and served as the basis for the famous hard cheese “Abondance”.

Today, tourists visiting this village are divided into two main categories: about half of them are food lovers, because the local cheese is recognized as a real delicacy. The second half are mountain skiers who appreciate measured skiing, the absence of wild apresque and the beauty of unspoiled nature.

However, Abundance cannot be called boring. Rather, traditional. Here they honor their history, crafts, preserve and restore ancient buildings and are happy to lead tours of them. In 2003, the village received an honorary medal “Land of Art and History” from the French Minister of Culture for its careful attitude to its past.

How to get there

A bondans is located in the Northern Alps, not far from the border with Switzerland.

The nearest international airport is Geneva (47.4 km).

The nearest railway station is 30 kilometers away, in the town of Tonon-les-Bains, on the shores of Lake Geneva.

From La Chapelle d’Abondance you can take a free bus to all the ski resorts of the Porte du Soleil region.

Tracks and lifts

The height of the slopes in Abondance varies from 930 to 2,438 m, the length is 25 km, the number of tracks is 13 (4 red, 6 blue, 2 green and 1 black). Tourists are served by 9 lifts (2 chair lifts, 7 rope lifts), the resort has a snow park, 40 km of cross-country ski trails and snowboard trails. The Esser ski lift is located at the very foot of the village, it takes tourists to slopes of any slope.

Abondance justifies the title of a real family resort – the tracks here are mainly for quiet skiing: three green and one blue. But there are three red and two black slopes for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The highest point to which the lift will take you is 1,730 meters.

There are separate skiing areas for a children’s ski school, with its own ski lift. If 25 kilometers of pistes in the home region are not enough for you, you should consider the global Porte du Soleil (266 pistes, 650 kilometers long), with the resorts of which A bondance is connected by a system of ski buses and a single ski pass.

The nearest snowboard parks are located 14 kilometers from Abondance, in the Chatel resort : the huge Happy Park with big apes for every taste and Smooth Park, which boasts a variety of shapes for jibbing.

Recommendations prepared

At the service of amateur athletes are 13 tracks with a total length of 25 km, of which 2 are very easy, and 1 is difficult, all others are intended for athletes who are confident in their abilities.

Recommendations to experts

Most of the tracks in Abondance are difficult, there are tracks for true extremes. For snowboarders, a snow park is organized and border cross tracks are equipped.

Infrastructure

Abondance is famous for its hospitable residents and beautiful landscapes. The village has bars, restaurants and cafes, banks and souvenir shops. As souvenirs, vacationers are happy to buy wooden doves made by village craftsmen, which are considered a symbol of good and well-being in the home.

The local cuisine is rich in natural farm products and a good selection of national dishes, the mandatory component of which is the delicate alpine cheese “Abondance” with an amber crust.

Skipas

A one-day ski pass for adults is 21 euros, for children from five years of age the ski pass is equal to their age, but not more than 15.5 euros, teenagers and seniors pay 18 euros for one day.

A weekly ski pass for adults is 108.8 euros, for children from 5 to 15 children 17.7 euros, for the elderly and teenagers 16-19 years old 93 euros.

Selected hotels in Abondance

Hotel Le Ferraillon 3-star hotel

Hotel Le Ferraillon is located 3 km from the city center and 8 km from the Châtel ski slopes. It offers free Wi-Fi in public areas and free access to the indoor pool and hot tub.

All heated rooms feature mountain views, wooden floors and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The bathroom has complimentary toiletries and a bathtub or shower.

A buffet breakfast can be ordered every morning at Hotel Le Ferraillon. The hotel restaurant serves dishes from the Savoy region. Packed lunches can also be requested.

The hotel is environmentally friendly, has 16 solar panels for heating the hotel and 8 solar panels for heating the pool.

Guests can go mountain biking, skiing, and paragliding. The hotel has a fitness center and Evia-les-Bains is 37 km away. Free private parking is available on site.

Les Chateaux d’Abondance

Les Chateaux d’Abondance is located in Abondance , 1.1 km from Esser Cable Car and 2 km from Teleski le Lac.

Each room has a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, a fireplace, a seating area with a sofa, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bathtub and a hairdryer. There is also a microwave, fridge and oven, kettle and coffee maker.

Ski storage is available, and skiing can be enjoyed not far from the aparthotel.

Téléski de la Pêche is 3 km from Les Chateaux d’Abondance, while Grand Frémoux Ski Lift is 3.2 km away. The nearest airport is Mayette Airport, 101 km from the accommodation.

2-star hotel Les Touristes

Les Touristes is a family hotel located in the very center of Abondance. It offers free Wi-Fi and a garden with a children’s playground.

Rooms are equipped with bathrooms, TV and telephone. They overlook the mountains and some rooms have a balcony.

The hotel has a terrace with flowers and a garden. The bar, lounge and reading room provide comfortable places to relax. There is also a restaurant serving typical French and Savoy cuisine, including fondue.

Les Touristes is located 200 meters from the lift of the Abondance ski lift. The hotel offers free parking and a garage for motorcycles and bicycles. There is a free shuttle service to Porte du Soleil Ski Resort.

4-star Les Gentianettes Hotel & Spa

Les Gentianettes Chalet Hotel is located in the heart of the ski and mountain resort of Port du Soleil. Set in a traditional chalet style at an altitude of 1,050 meters, this 4-star hotel offers an indoor pool, a hammam and a sauna. Free Wi-Fi is provided.

The rooms have private bathrooms and a TV. Some rooms have a separate toilet. Each room has a view from a private balcony. Access to the lift is provided.

Guests can relax on the terrace. The hotel has a Savoyard restaurant and a semi-gastronomic restaurant. A selection of French and international wines is available.

Geneva Airport is only 72 km away. Free private parking is available on site. A private ski bus that goes directly to the Châtel Linga ski area.

Attractions

“Abondance” means “abundance” in French. It is customary to call the village, the valley in which it is located, the monastery, and the famous cheese abundant. In time immemorial, monks bred a variety of red and white cows called Abondance , made the first cheese from their milk, and in 1381 sent almost a ton of cheese as a gift to the papal court in Avignon. Since then, this monastery cheese has gained popularity. It has a fruity-nutty aroma and an amber-golden crust. Cheese is included in the ingredients of the national dishes berthoud, poelee baise, crouton campagnarde and fondue savoyarde.

Abundance cheese

Invented in Chablais, this whole unpasteurized milk cheese is produced in the mountains of Haute-Savoie. In 1990, it was awarded the category of Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC), and in 1996 it was awarded the category of Protected Appellation of Origin (Appellation d’Origine Protégée – AOP). In the 14th century, the monks of Abondance Abbey bred the eponymous breed of cows, organized pastures and began to make their own high-quality cheese, which soon became known outside the abbey: as early as 1381, Abondance cheese was served to the table during the enclave in Avignon, which gathered for the election of the new Pope.

Cheese with semi-cooked pressed dough, with curved edges and a viscous crust. From 70 to 120 liters of milk is used for one head of cheese. For the appearance of a subtle aroma, which is given to the cheese by the pasture grass, it must mature for at least three months. The head of Abondance cheese is easy to recognize by the blue casein label: farm cheese is marked with an oval label, all others with a square label.

A small head with a viscous, often moist brown-orange peel. The pulp is yellow, the shade of which varies depending on the time of year when the cheese was made. A rather dense texture with small eyes formed during the fermentation process, sometimes with small cracks.

The Abondance resort includes such attractions as the ancient Abondance temple, a market known throughout the world for its breed of cows, and it also houses real craftsmen who work on wood. You can take from here a touching dove carved from a pine as a souvenir, because in these parts it is believed that it brings happiness and well-being.

The ancient church of the 11th century in Abondance was founded by Augustinian monks who came here from bordering Switzerland. Later, it turned into an abbey and gave rise to the farming settlement of Abondance. Now there are no monks in the monastery, but the main attraction of the village is available for tourist viewing. The temple is of great historical value and is guarded very carefully by the local authorities.

Visit a master class of a famous local resident – woodwork master Gerard Bert. He will teach you how to carve doves from a pine tree, which bring prosperity to the house. And don’t forget to buy the famous cheese with a pleasant fruity and nutty taste as a gift for family and friends.

Abondance Valley House

Here you can learn about the history of Abondance, its traditions and crafts. A large exposition is devoted to farming. A pleasant bonus: tourists are offered spiritual food to eat with local cheese, fresh bread with herbs and drink it with steamed milk.

Ticket price: adult – 4.00 €, children (8-15 years) – 3.00 €. You will have to pay an extra €2.00 for tasting the cheese.

Abbondance Abbey

The monastery was founded in the 11th century. Around this time, Abondance cheese was invented here. Since the 18th century, monks have not lived in the abbey, but the building is available for tours. An interesting Gothic cloister and a covered walking gallery, which was created on the site of the internal Romanesque courtyard of the monastery.

Entrance ticket for adults – 4 €; for children – 3 €. Children under the age of eight are free. Abbey guides are available in English, German, Dutch, Spanish and Italian.