Flying High at the

International Balloon Festival Château-d’Oex

Château-d’Oex – The Capital of Hot Air Ballooning

Every year the Swiss have a great way of chasing away the January blues – a joyous and very colourful festival which takes place in the southern, French speaking part of the county.  This very special meeting is the Château-d’Oex Hot Air Ballooning Festival which has become a tradition here for the past 40 years.

Special Micro Climate at Château-d’Oex

Situated between Gruyere and Gstaad, in the “Alpes Vaudoises” region of Switzerland, Château-d’Oex is blessed with a very special micro climate which makes it ideal for hot air ballooning. The festival is truly international and it attracts a very global audience.

The Festival Takes Place Every Year at the end of January

Photographer Carmen Sirboiu took these fabulous shots of the event which takes place at the end of January every year.

You can find out all about the region’s long ballooning tradition at a modern museum called the Espace Ballon, which makes for a great day out for all the family.

Things to do in the Region

After you have watched the hot air ballooning, there is plenty more to see in this beautiful region of Switzerland. The Musée du Vieux Pays-d’Enhaut has a range of everyday life objects from days gone by as well as Scherenschnitt displays too. This old artistic tradition of making pictures out of paper cut-outs is still kept alive in the area.

L’Etivaz cheese

You won’t get hungry in the region either as this is where the delicious L’Etivaz cheese comes from. You can even visit the Maison de L’Etivaz to find out all about this regional hard cheese from the nearby mountain. It takes its name is derived from the village where the cheese is matures in cellars.  In Château-d’Oex you can also see cheese being made at Le Chalet, which is a restaurant as well as a cheese dairy. Why not round off the day with a  typical fondue?.

Winter Sports

Other activates you can indulge in during the Winter at Château-d’Oex are Snow Shoeing, Skiing and Cross Country Skiing.

Chateau d’Oex Hot Air Balloon Festival

Where: Château-d’Oex, Switzerland

When: 25th January – 2nd February 2020

Website for the Hot Air Balloon festival – click here.

Photos by Carmen Sirboiu

*** Other Places to Visit in Switzerland ***

Mount Rigi – Queen of the Mountains

Zermatt and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

A Trip to the Rheinfalls Switzerland

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