INTERNATIONAL
BALLOON FESTIVAL CHÂTEAU D'OEX
Hot Air Balloon Flights in the Swiss Alps
The
first International Balloon Festival in Chateau D’Oex, Switzerland
was held in 1979 and for 33 years since, the brightly colored
and odd shaped bags of hot air have risen over the white snow-capped
peaks of the Alps every winter (though in recent years a little lighter
on the snow). Now the balloon extravaganza is held usually the last
week of January. Over
80 balloons
and 10 special forms of curious shapes, animals to mountain huts, from
18 different countries will participate. Daily balloon flights for
the week
long festival are accompanied by air shows of aerobatic planes, parachuting
and demonstrations of flying wing suits and gliders. Wednesday is children's
day with special activities for kids, costume contests and tethered balloon
flights. Friday brings the nighttime spectacular of the "Night Glow" Sound
and Light Show, probably the most popular event of the festival with
balloon illuminations, dance music performance, night paragliders and
fireworks. The Feast Village is open with craft stalls and restaurants
and “Alpine Wave” Disco Dancing until 4am and more balloons
through the last weekend.
The
village of Chateau D’Oex in the Canton Vaud first found its
place as a winter holiday resort in 1904 when discovered by British tourists
taking the new “MOB” rail line from Montreux on the shore
of Lake Geneva to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. Chateau D’Oex
lies between Gruyeres and Gstaad along the Golden Pass rail route (see Golden
Pass Route Scenic Train).
The microclimate of the Alps plateau of the Pays d'Enhaut is especially
well
suited to ballooning, protected from winds by the surrounding peaks.
If you can’t make the festival in January, the Espace Balloon Museum “Space Ball” and Center for Ballooning at Chateau D’Oex is open year round with exhibits of hot air ballooning history and technology including the capsule of the Breitling Orbiter, from the test of the first around the world balloon flight (see Balloon Museum Chateau D'Oex). Hot Air Balloon rides are offered every day, weather permitting, rising for at least an hour with beautiful mountain views from Mont Blanc to the Eiger and the Matterhorn. Some balloon rides at the festival are offered for free, the rest of the year they cost about 390 Swiss Francs for an adult, half price for children.
By train, get to Chateau
D’Oex from Geneva or Milan via Swiss
Rail to Montreux then the Golden Pass line, or from Zurich or Lucerne
via Interlaken and Zweisimmen, through beautiful mountain scenery. By
car from the north via Highway N12 to Bulle to Gstaad on the Route Cantonale
or from the south N6 Motorway to Aigle (see Chateau
Aigle Wine Museum)
via Col des Mosses. From Bern or Thun via Spiez and Zweisimmen. © Bargain
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These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission. Photos courtesy Switzerland-Lake Geneva Tourism.
SEE ALSO:
WINTER
RESORTS OF LAKE GENEVA REGION
CRUISING LAKE GENEVA IN GRAND STYLE
GRINDELWALD
- SWISS WORLD SNOW FESTIVAL
INTERLAKEN
PARAGLIDING
