HOT
AIR BALLOON MUSEUM – CHATEAU D’OEX
Espace Ballon - Ballooning History in the Alpine Valleys
Chateau
D’oex (pronounced day) has become the world’s alpine
capital of ballooning. The first International Balloon Festival in Chateau
D’Oex was held in 1979; with the skies filled with brightly colored
bags of hot air drifting over the snowy peaks every year from this beautiful
protected valley in the Swiss Vaud region (see Chateau
D’Oex Balloon
Festival). If you can’t make it for the balloon festival, the rest
of the year you can explore the wonder and history of hot air ballooning
at the Espace Ballon – Hot Air Balloon Museum in the center of
town. From the bright yellow capsule with the logo of watchmaker Breitling
marked on it in front, you’ll know you’ve found it. The Breitling
Orbiter capsule is from the around the world record attempt by Bertrand
Piccard and Brian Jones. This yellow capsule is from the second voyage
of three. Take a peak in the bulbous observation window.
Inside
the smallish museum in a restored historic building, you’ll
find two floors and an attic space dedicated to the history of balloons
and flight, from Icarus to the modern day of high altitude and recreational
hot air ballooning. Different zones in the space explore different aspects
of the science and history with interactive and IPod Touch exhibits featuring
the technology and practicality of the sport, and a special section is
dedicated to the adventures of Auguste Piccard and his stratospheric
record attempt and the flights of the world orbiter with Brian Jones.
Samples of balloon fabric cover the walls of the modern section, an actual
hot air balloon envelope fills the rafters and it is even possible to
get the sense of being in a balloon by stepping into the actual gondola
basket suspended from the ceiling. A 3D movie station allows visitors
to experience different balloon journeys above the Vaud and Bernese Alps
region, with some magnificent aerial views. Following the interactive
tour in the museum with the films, clips and interviews takes about two
hours. Or you can take your own time. Temporary exhibits are held throughout
the year.
Visiting the Espace Ballon Chateau D’Oex
The
ballooning museum is open from 2pm to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed
in the month of November. Admission is 6 CHF for adults, 5 CHF for Seniors
and 4 CHF for Students, Children up to 9 years are free. Entrance is
free with a Swiss Pass. The Espace Ballon is just two blocks from the
Chateau D’Oex rail station, in the small village. The museum can
easily be visited on a stopover on the Golden Pass route from Montreux
to Interlaken (see Golden
Pass Scenic Rail). Trains run on the historic MOB
line through the village, every hour in each direction. Balloon flights
over the valley can be arranged for a price of 390 CHF for adults and
195 CHF for children. If spending some time in the village, check out
the regional folk museum Musee Du Vieux Pays d”Enhaut, with its
collection of historic Decoupages. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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Espace
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