Page 146 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

10 11 district of Gruyère, is a
popular destination for
Villars-sur-Ollon Château d’Oex visitors, and is often crowded
during the summer. As its only
! B5 ! B5 ⌂ Place du Village 6; street is pedestrianized,
www.chateau-doex.ch
One of the most popular ski vehicles must be left in the
resorts for families in the A stop on the stunning train parking areas below.
Vaud Alps, the village of route from Montreux to Gstaad, The village has houses
Villars-sur-Ollon sits on a
dating from the 15th to the
the pretty Château d’Oex is
EXPERIENCE Western Switzerland cogwheel train transports church, which sits proud on a Gruyères. Built in the 11th
17th centuries and is crowned
immediately identifiable
sunny plateau at 1,300 m
(4,300 ft), from where a
thanks to its 15th-century
by a castle, the Château de
century, the castle was continu-
steep hill in the centre of the
visitors to Col-de-Bretaye
ously inhabited by the counts
village. An attractive, sleepy
at 1,800 m (6,000 ft).
of Gruyères until the mid-16th
Up here on the summer
place, the village’s main draw
century, when the bankrupted
meadows golfers can enjoy an
is its special microclimate
which is favourable to hot-air
19th count fled and his lands
18-hole course with a view of
ballooning. Flights are avail-
Mont Blanc; come winter the
were divided between the
whole area is taken over by
able all year, and it’s especially
lords of Bern and Fribourg.
skiers. There are some good
acquired by the Bovys, a
when it hosts the nine-day
gentle slopes, making it a
wealthy Genevan family who
decent resort for beginners,
International Balloon Festival.
carried out extensive and
Watching multicoloured
while the chairlift links to worth visiting in late January In 1848, the castle was
neighbouring Gryon and balloons rise up off the white much-needed restoration. In
Les Diablerets mean more snow and ascend into (usually) 1939 the castle passed into
experienced skiers have plenty clear blue skies is a supremely the ownership of the cantonal
of challenging runs to keep joyful experience.
them entertained.
INSIDER TIP
Gruyère Cheese
12 At La Maison du Gruyère
Did You Know? Gruyères (www.lamaisondu
! B4 @ n 26 Place des gruyere.ch), a dairy in
The first tour of the Alpes, Bulle; www.la- Pringy, at the foot of
world in a hot-air gruyere.ch Gruyères, visitors can
balloon set off from watch the famous
Château-d’Oex, Visible from afar against the cheese being made.
in 1999. backdrop of alpine scenery, Don’t forget to taste
the well-preserved medieval it at the restaurant.
village of Gruyères, in the
The popular winter resort of
Villars-sur-Ollon, with gentle
slopes, ideal for beginners
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