Le Chalet in Château-d’Oex is a restaurant set in a large chalet built in 1976, where the “Le Chalet Bio” cheese is made over a wood fire. Here you can watch cheesemaking demonstrations and enjoy fondue, raclette and regional dishes.
Cheeses
Main highlights
- Cheesemaking over a wood fire by a cheesemaker in traditional costume
- Swiss specialty restaurant, with fondue and raclette served by staff in costume
- Shop on the lower floor with the house cheese, local products and souvenirs
Overview
Le Chalet is a restaurant and show cheese dairy in Château-d’Oex, in the Pays-d’Enhaut region. The building, constructed in 1976 by Marcel Lenoir, recreates an alpine chalet with rustic décor.
The establishment makes its own cheese, “Le Chalet Bio”, over a wood fire using the traditional method of alpine chalets. The cheese is then served in the restaurant. Le Chalet is an ambassador of the “Pays-d’Enhaut” brand, reflecting its ties to regional production.
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What to see and do
The cheesemaking demonstration is the main attraction. Right in front of you, a cheesemaker in traditional costume turns 160 to 200 litres of organic milk into hard cheese in a cauldron heated over a wood fire. The cheesemaker explains each step of the process as it is practised on mountain pastures.
The resulting wheels weigh 16 to 20 kg. They are then matured in the cellar for 5 to 6 months before appearing on the restaurant menu and the shop shelves.
In the restaurant, staff in traditional costume serve regional dishes, including fondue, raclette and other cheese specialties. On the lower floor, a shop sells the house cheese, other local products and regional souvenirs.
Practical information
Getting there : Le Chalet is about a 5-minute walk from Château-d’Oex station, served by the MOB line and the GoldenPass panoramic train from Montreux. A TPC bus also connects the village with the Col des Mosses.
Groups : demonstrations can be booked for groups of 15 or more.
On site : restaurant, shop selling regional products and souvenirs.
Visiting tips
To see the cheese being made, plan your visit during demonstration times, which take place in the late morning on certain days of the week. Book your table in advance, especially at weekends and during the tourist season, as it can get very busy.
Nearby attractions
- The Espace ballon in Château-d’Oex is an interactive museum dedicated to the history and technology of hot-air ballooning.
- The Musée du Vieux Pays-d’Enhaut displays objects from alpine life of the past and a major collection of papercuts.
- The Promenade du Pont Turrian crosses the Sarine on an iron suspension bridge dating from 1883, near the Ramaclé floodplain.
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