Château-d'Œx & Balloon Festival
Château-d'Œx
The world's ballooning capital. Every January, dozens of hot-air balloons take off during the International Balloon Festival, and balloon flights over the Alps are available year-round.
Château-d'Œx lies about 12 km west of Gstaad. It was the departure point of the first non-stop balloon round-the-world flight, in 1999. The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is held in late January, when about 80 balloons rise from the snowy fields, and a Night Balloon glow show takes place in the evening. Balloon flights can be booked outside festival time, lasting about 1 to 1.5 hours at a premium price. In the village, the Espace Ballon hot-air balloon museum and the Pays-d'Enhaut Museum of Folk Art, known for its paper cutting, are worth a visit. The Le Chalet cheese dairy stages demonstrations of traditional Gruyère cheesemaking over an open fire.
Opening hours
Balloon festival in January; museum approx. 10:00–17:00