The International Balloon Festival at Chateau d’Oex
The 2010 Festival International de ballons…..
Just got back from the opening day of the Parmigiani International Balloon Festival held annually at Chateau d’Oex in Switzerland.
The festival runs from the 23rd to the 31st of January and features balloons of all shapes and sizes taking off from Chateaux d’Oex and filling the skies above the snow covered mountains with stunning colours.
There are demonstrations by paragliders, hang gliders, parachutists, acrobatic planes and mini balloons with passenger flights and night displays. It’s a massive opportunity to promote business by advertising on the balloons and the more fantastic the size and shape the better.
The valley of the Pays-d’Enhaut region offers the perfect microclimate for ballooning and I must say the setting for the festival is quite stunning. I shall post some photographs in the next few days once I have worked my way through them all!
For more information and photographs please click here
Chateau d’Oex Balloon Festival
Miles,
Wow, what a fabulous sight. We came unexpectedly across a ballon festival in Austria some years ago. We were driving through a valley and suddenly came upon these huge balloons, fun characters of all shapes and sizes. A photographer’s delight. Looking forward to seeing some when you are ready.
Anne
January 25, 2010 @ 11:23 am
Did they offer rides?
Really worth doing if you could. I did it years ago over one of the US deserts. We took off at dawn and watched the desert come to life as the sun rose. (This included seeing some folks on the large ranches meandering about in their jimjams and nighties to fetch the morning paper!)
Landing was a bit rough and inglorious but all and all the silence when the gas isn’t igniting to keep one aloft makes it different from any other sort of small craft flight.
Can’t wait to see the photos!
L
January 25, 2010 @ 12:10 pm
Sounds like a load of hot air to me !
January 25, 2010 @ 4:39 pm
Anne,
It was quite stunning, have to say. Usually Im not that bothered about this sort of thing but my word….
Miles
January 25, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
Laura,
They do but I didn’t because I was having a business lunch when it all started in earnest. Then I had to catch the 4.30 train to Montreaux so no time alas.
Yours sounds like fun though
Miles
January 25, 2010 @ 7:48 pm
Rod,
You should have been there to offer your hot air services
Miles
January 25, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
Miles,
Surely this would hold no interest for Rod….. nothing but glamour, free lunches and Swiss watches
Whatever happens stick with this job, it sounds like a good ‘un, very varied and challenging. As fabulous as hot air balloons are and aren’t we all mesmerized when we see them… you’d never get me in one, not even if Daniel Craig himself begged. I’ll be the one on the terrace drinking something sparkling and eyeing up the local fondue
watching you and Laura floating about and Melissa skiing down that hill.
Cid
p.s. were the Lindt gang there?
January 25, 2010 @ 8:02 pm
You should have been there
If they ever fly over Lincolnshire I will be
January 25, 2010 @ 8:48 pm