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Château-d'Œx
Château-d'Œx is a municipality in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the capital of the district of Pays-d'Enhaut.
Skiing is a key activity in the area with the ski station of La Braye accessible via cable car (also open in Summer) from the heart of Château-d'Œx village.
The world famous "Balloon Week" has been held each year since 1979 in the last week of January. Up to 100 balloonists gather for the festival each year. The Breitling Orbiter 3, the first hot air balloon to circumnavigate the earth, took-off from Château-d'Œx on March 1, 1999. Commemorative insignia (pins) are created for each festival and are sold as pass-tickets to the museum and sportive manifestations for the whole duration of it.
The Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher and his wife, Jetta Umiker, spent several ye ars in the town.
David Niven, the British actor who played Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days (1956 film), lived much of his life in Château-d'Œx. He died at his chalet on July 29, 1983 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at age 73.
A museum dedicated to Montgolfier type ballons is located in the center of the town. |
