Located to the east of Lake Geneva and closely linked to Gstaad, but with its own separate ski domain, the ski resort of Château d'Oex is well known for its charm and unspoilt Alpine character. The skiing region, between 1,000m and 3,000m above sea level, offers everything ski enthusiasts could want, from easy family slopes to steep demanding runs.

The small mountain village of Châteaux d’Oex (1,000m) is nestled in the centre of a wide valley and has excellent facilities, making it a great base from which to explore some of the most interesting skiing in Switzerland. There are playgrounds and day care for children as well as a host of shops, banks and a museum.

There are over 4,000 beds in Château d’Oex village in hotels, pensions, chalets and apartments. For convenience there are 400 slope-side beds available, and mountain huts available in nearby Zweisimmen. There are many restaurants and bars, plus a few clubs, but on the whole, the après-ski remains pretty mellow.

Chateaux d’Oex ski resort has 50kms of superb runs, ranging from beginner to advanced slopes, and a longest run of eight kilometres. Sixteen ski lifts operate over all runs and feature a cable car, two high-speed quads, and 13 surface lifts, with a capacity for over 9,000 skiers per hour.

For alternative skiing, the ‘Super Ski Region’ (Chateaux-d’Oex, Alpes Vaudoises, and White Highland), features 130 ski lifts and up to 450kms of prepared slopes, catering to all skiing abilities. Gstaad is only 20 minutes away and offers alternative shopping and additional après-ski adventure. The Les Diablerets Glacier, in the Alpes Vaudoises ski region, is renowned for splendid spring and summer skiing.

The ski season in Chateaux-d’Oex runs from December to April, with spring and summer skiing on Les Diablerets glacier. The best way to get here is to fly to Geneva and take a train/train combination to Chateaux-d’Oex ski resort.