Hot Air Balloon Festivals
Event running from January 26th to February 3rd, 2018
Chateau d Oex in the Vaudois Alps of Switzerland plays host to an International hot air balloon festival in January of each year. This popular 9-day festival sponsored by Parmigiani includes the possibility for visitors to take a hot air balloon ride and on the Friday night features a spectacular show with night glow and fireworks.
The 2018 event marked the 40th anniversary, which brought together pilots from around twenty different countries and around 70 balloons. Château d’Oex has a winter microclimate particularly suited to flying hot air balloons amid the spectacular scenery of the Alps.
The link between Château-d’Oex and hot air balloons is a historical one as it was also the departure point of the Breitling Orbiter, a balloon that was the first to circumnavigate the globe in 1999. Piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, the balloon beat Richard Branson to the prize – he had previously attempted the flight and failed. Visitors can learn about the story of this adventure at the Château-d’Oex hot air balloon museum located in the centre of the town. Piccard is also known for his solar-powered flight around the planet, completed in 2016.
The festival attracts many international visitors and locals across two weekends, with hot air balloons in special shapes, air displays and model hot air balloons. Pleasure flights can also be taken in helicopters around the valley and there are ski slopes in the surrounding mountains.
The next event takes place 26 January to 3rd February 2019.
The 2018 event marked the 40th anniversary, which brought together pilots from around twenty different countries and around 70 balloons. Château d’Oex has a winter microclimate particularly suited to flying hot air balloons amid the spectacular scenery of the Alps.
The link between Château-d’Oex and hot air balloons is a historical one as it was also the departure point of the Breitling Orbiter, a balloon that was the first to circumnavigate the globe in 1999. Piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, the balloon beat Richard Branson to the prize – he had previously attempted the flight and failed. Visitors can learn about the story of this adventure at the Château-d’Oex hot air balloon museum located in the centre of the town. Piccard is also known for his solar-powered flight around the planet, completed in 2016.
The festival attracts many international visitors and locals across two weekends, with hot air balloons in special shapes, air displays and model hot air balloons. Pleasure flights can also be taken in helicopters around the valley and there are ski slopes in the surrounding mountains.
The next event takes place 26 January to 3rd February 2019.