Château d'Oex

The praise describes what the resort was while its lifts ran: reviewers said it traded on quality rather than kilometres, packing gentle and steep pitches into a small area, with a descent of some eight kilometres down to the village. They valued the calm, unglamorous family feel, welcoming restaurants serving local food, the hot-air balloon festival and easy train access to neighbouring areas on the Gstaad regional pass.

The hard criticism is that there is no downhill skiing here any more. The area was always small, the lifts few, and the price felt steep for the size. After the commune withdrew its subsidy the La Braye lifts were stopped, the chairlift has not run since 2018, and directories list the resort as closed. A year-round revival project is talked about but unfunded, leaving cross-country trails, winter walks and the village itself.