Chateau d’Oex :
Is a delightful traditional village, with many amenities, in the French speaking part of Switzerland. There are various restaurants, tea shops, banks, an excellent supermarket and traditional food shops. Also car hire, cycle hire, sports rental, video and dvd rental, etc. There is a cinema, a delightful museum, a helpful, English speaking tourist office and various churches. It is a world-renowned centre for hot air ballooning and every January the International Hot-Air Balloon week is held with a multitude of balloons taking to the air. Traditional Alpine and musical events occur throughout the year. It is an ideal place to relax or be active.
Winter activities :
Include downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snow-shoeing, tobogganing, hot air ballooning, winter walks, ice-skating, curling and tenpin bowling. Concerts and recitals in Chateau d'Oex and neighbouring villages: check with tourist office. ALL CHILDREN UNDER 9 RECEIVE FREE LIFT PASSES if accompanied by an adult, when skiing in the Gstaad Superski Region.
Summer activities :
Cable cars are open June to September, giving access to well signed networks of summer walks, and mountain biking. Also skiing at Les Diableret Glacier, cycle routes, horse-riding, hot air ballooning, white water rafting, canoeing, fishing, archery, via ferrata, tenpin bowling, tennis and relaxing! The beautiful Gstaad golf course at Saanenmoser (complete with driving range) is 20 minutes away, also within 45 minutes are golf courses at Lac Gruyere, Villars and Aigle. Also: The Swiss Open International Tennis (Gstaad, July), Montreux Jazz festival, (July), Menuhin Music Festival (Gstaad), Chillon and Aigle castles, Spa towns of Ovronnaz and Yverdon-les-Bains. There is a new Alpine rollercoaster/bobsleigh ride at Glacier 3000.
Ski:
Chateau d’Oex is part of the Gstaad Superski region, with 250 kilometres of piste, 66 lifts and 6 ski areas, amongst stunning scenery, and including the summer skiing on Les Diablerets Glacier at over 3000 metres. Four hour or daily passes allow great flexibility and the area suits all standards of skiers. Nursery and snow park for children in the village. Local cable car in centre of village. Excellent cross country skiing at La Lecherette 15 minutes away. There are many designated snow shoeing and winter walking paths in the area.
Golf:
Within 1hours drive from Chateau d’Oex, there are 4 golf courses, at Saanenmoser, Villars, Lake Gruyere, and Aigle. The nearest, 20 minutes away, and arguably one of the most spectacular Alpine courses, is Golf Club Gstaad Saanenland, a stunning 18 hole course, (par 70, 5305 metres) at an altitude of 1400 metres, and is open from June to October, after the snow has receded. The driving range has a view to die for! In early summer the fairways weave between protected orchids in a nature reserve and alpine meadow flowers and pine woods. Golf de la Gruyere (par 68, 5058 metres) has views over the lake and to the mountains beyond. Montreux Golf Course at Aigle (par 72, 5828 metres), is flatter and easier on the legs. The green fees vary between £30 and £50, depending on the day you play.
Other Activities:
Hot air ballooning, ice-skating, curling, white water rafting, canoeing, mini golf, tenpin bowling, archery, pentanque, via ferrata
