Château-d'Œx

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Château-d'Œx
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Vaud
District	Pays-d'Enhaut
Coordinates	46°28′N, 7°7′E
Population	3,034 (2003)
- Density	27 /km² (69 /sq.mi.)
Area	113.76 km² (43.9 sq mi)
Elevation	958 m (3,143 ft)
Postal code	1660
SFOS number	5841
Surrounded by (view map)	Charmey (FR), Grandvillard (FR), Gsteig bei Gstaad (BE), Haut-Intyamon (FR), Ormont-Dessous, Ormont-Dessus, Rossinière, Rougemont, Saanen (BE), Villeneuve
Website	www.chateau-doex.ch
Château-d'Œx [zoom]

Château-d'Œx is a municipality in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the capital of the district of Pays-d'Enhaut.

View of mountains surrounding Château-d'Œx in winter. The foreground shows typical Swiss chalets.

[edit] Highlights

Skiing is a key activity in the area with the ski station of La Braye accessible via telecabin (also open in Summer) from the heart of Château-d'Œx village.

The world famous "Balloon Week" is held in the month 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.

The Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher and his wife, Jetta Umiker, spent several years in the town.

David Niven, the British actor, lived much of his life in Château-d'Œx. He died at his chalet on July 29, 1983 of motor neurone disease (Lou Gehrig's Disease) at age 73.