Educational activities

When plumes of smoke billow out, the distinctive whistling attracts attention and the old train begins to move, the past comes back to life.

The love affair that Château-d'Oex has had with hot-air ballooning began in 1979 with the first international hot-air balloon week. Since then, every year for 27 years, Château-d'Oex has attracted as many as 100 balloonists who, for one week in January, fill the sky above the resort with a colourful fleet of gently drifting giants.

This old farm building, built in 1790 and recently renovated without destroying the original atmosphere, houses a museum dedicated to wheat and bread. The bread-making process is displayed, in addition to the history of the food and speculation on what the future of bread-making will hold. There are three storeys to represent the work of the farmer, the miller and the baker.. Early in 2006, the museum mascot Ti'Grain became a feature on the programme of activities. He's the guide on a learning path along which children can find out about the story of grain and bread.

Children and adults spontaneously find familiar reference points in this world, making it easier to access the history of games through the centuries and across the continents.

The museum displays iconographical and applied art collections from the Association Mémoire de Lausanne, in addition to different cultural assets belonging to the Town of Lausanne.

The 'Brouette' steam railway line takes you across fields to Echallens, a typical countryside market town, where you can visit the Maison du Blé et du Pain (a wheat and bread museum): enough to make your mouth water!

The steam train runs on particular Sundays between June and September, from Le Pont to Le Brassus.

Les Diablerets is a pretty village which has retained all its mountainous charm. Majestic peaks, lush green pastures and refreshing lakes will make you feel on top of the world.

Between April and September, hop on board a small tourist train and discover the beauty of the old town of Morges and its blossoming quays.

Explore the culture and the nature surrounding the largest lake in Western Europe. Visit the largest aquariums in French Switzerland and see all the birds that live around the lake. Models and boats are displayed, along with art collections, maps and a unique archive collection.