Established in 1904 the Swiss ski resort Chateaux d'Oex lies at 1000 metres altitude in the Vaud region of the Swiss Alps / Alpes. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 1700m the area is not snow sure. Over 3 snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers 0.3km of trails, which equates to around 5 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Chateaux d'Oex is Geneva / Geneve at a distance of 142km or approximately 150 minutes driving time. Their season runs from December to April.
SNO-man says
A lovely village on the French side of the French/German language border within Switzerland. Home for many years to actor David Niven and still to the biggest annual ballooning festival in the Alps each January. More than 250km of piste are available on the Gstaad Mountain Rides pass which includes the mountain railway which conveniently runs between base lifts at most of the resorts en route.
Beginner Trails ![]() |
40% | Intermediate Trails ![]() |
60% |
Advanced Trails ![]() |
30% | Expert Trails ![]() |
10% |
View our detailed Chateaux d'Oex snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Chateaux d'Oex snow history.
Beginners | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Intermediate | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Advanced/Expert | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snowboarders | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Apres Ski | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Family/child Friendly | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snow-Sure | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ambience | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Value for money | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lift Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | CHF327 - CHF327 |
Traditional Village / |
|
Resort Opens | Dec 2020 |
Resort Closes | Apr 2021 |
( snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Downhill Runs | 25km |
total length of Chateaux d'Oex trails | |
Longest Lift-Served Run | 4km |
longest piste or trail reachable by lift | |
Slope Orientation | N, E |
direction Chateaux d'Oex area faces | |
Top Altitude | 1700m |
top station of highest lift | |
Bottom Altitude | 968m |
bottom of lowest run | |
Resort Altitude | 1000m |
centre of Chateaux d'Oex ski resort | |
Vertical Drop | 802m |
total descent from top lift to bottom piste | |
Skiable Vertical | ^v 802m |
can include extra hike up above top lift | |
Nearby resorts: |
The mountain has 40% beginner runs or nursery slopes, 60% intermediate, 30% advanced slopes and 10% for experts - the most difficult piste is the 4km Bois Cheneau run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. There is no night skiing.
Rating for skiing gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Rating for snowboarding gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Off-Slope activities include:
SNO-man says
Rating for apres ski gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
The Swiss resort is also known as Château d'Oex La Braye and has common misspellings:
The direction which the various Chateaux d'Oex slopes face can make or break your ski holiday. To guarantee good snow conditions, choose a resort with piste which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February pick a resort with sunny south facing slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a resort with cool and shady north facing trails will ensure you're not riding on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best destinations have areas which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating conditions whatever the weather. Chateaux d'Oex has slopes facing N, E.
Rating for snow gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Chateaux d'Oex day and evening care plus snow ski schools and babysitting.
A good choice for families, this centre is very rare for a village its size in Switzerland in that the Swiss ski school offers day care for children from age one up. Many of the hotels are also very child friendly, notably the Beau Sejour and the Ermitage, which has a children's playroom. If your children are just starting to ski then there are few more family-friendly gentle slopes than the lower slopes at les Moulins. Of course kids love getting on the mountain train to travel between resorts and then hopping on the gondola to try a new ski area every day. Children up to age nine receibe free lift tickets. Getting off at Gstaad and wandering down the pedestrianised high street to the big swimming pool complex is popular too. Château-d'Oex's cafe, especially for older children - with non-alcoholic drinks and a games room in the basement is another rarity. Later in the season the crazy golf course opens, but before that the natural ice rink goes down well, as does the night skiing twice a week, or maybe toboganning or a sleigh ride.
3 stars out of 5 overall
Chateaux d'Oex shopping - fashion boutiques, outdoor gear and food shops
Three shopping approaches to choose from in Chateau-d'Oex. First of all there are the shops in the resort itself - much as you would expect for a mid-sized resort, several good ski and gift shops, although a mix of 'normal' stores also. Then there's the option of hopping on the train to Gstaad to sample the stunning designer shopping opportunities for which that resort is famed - now with a pedestrianised high street to wander around on between them. Finally, there are the local products of the Pays d'Enhaut Valley, in particular the Etivaz cheese, created in the same way for generations. Even today 80 families are engaged in cheese production from June to October, using the traditional technique of heating the Alpine milk in enormous copper vats over a wood fire. For connoisseurs, the cheese has its premium varieties just like wine!
Chateaux d'Oex value for money gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Chateaux d'Oex hire shops - overview of all shopping in Chateaux d'Oex
Three shopping approaches to choose from in Chateau-d'Oex. First of all there are the shops in the resort itself - much as you would expect for a mid-sized resort, several good ski and gift shops, although a mix of 'normal' stores also. Then there's the option of hopping on the train to Gstaad to sample the stunning designer shopping opportunities for which that resort is famed - now with a pedestrianised high street to wander around on between them. Finally, there are the local products of the Pays d'Enhaut Valley, in particular the Etivaz cheese, created in the same way for generations. Even today 80 families are engaged in cheese production from June to October, using the traditional technique of heating the Alpine milk in enormous copper vats over a wood fire. For connoisseurs, the cheese has its premium varieties just like wine!
Chateaux d'Oex ski rental shops value rating gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Chateaux d'Oex ski school - snowboarding course & skiing lessons
The official ski/board school is called Swiss Ski and Snowboard School and has ? teachers teaching in English, French, German, Italia, Spanish, Swedish and taking students from a minimum age of 3.ecoledeski@bluewin.ch www.ess-chax.ch 9246848
Chateaux d'Oex for beginners gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Chateaux d'Oex for intermediates gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Chateaux d'Oex for expert skiers gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Chateaux d'Oex for snowboarding gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Chateaux d'Oex snow sports - off slope winter mountain sports
Cross Country Skiing (langlaufen) in Chateaux d'Oex: 28km X C ski trails, Lessons available? Y
Easy XC Ski Trails: 28km Intermediate XC Trails: 0km Difficult XC Trails: 0km
Telemark Tuittion: Y Telemark Rental 1 Paragliding schools: 2
Snow mobile Rental: 0 Toboggan Run Length: 4km
Chateaux d'Oex snow fun - off slope winter activities
Outdoor Ice Rink: 1 Indoor Ice Rink: 0 Balloon Flights: 1
Prepared Winter Walks: 10 Snowshoeing: 1 Hang Gliding : 1
Snow mobile Rental: 0 Toboggan Run Length: 4km Paragliding schools: 2
Chateaux d'Oex non skiing facilities also include ?.