Château des Rubins – Observatoire des Alpes
About
After two years of pharaonic work, the Château des Rubins becomes the Observatory of the Alps. All year round, it offers a modern, fun and interactive exhibition on the theme of the mountain with a capital M.
Go on an exploration through light and sound atmospheres to discover the many facets of life in the mountains!
The Château des Rubins – Observatoire des Alpes opens its doors on a new scenography made up of around fifty interactive modules spread over four floors:
1) geology and glaciology
2) fauna and flora
3) The story of the man in the mountains
4) Changes in the climate
The new course is intended for the curious and for a family audience. It covers more than 500m2 for a visit duration of approximately two hours. The information is light, but precise.
The Château des Rubins – Observatoire des Alpes also offers a wide range of activities and workshops for families. It comes in three ways:
1) The “Rubinoscopes”: these animations are demonstrations or experiments designed in the form of short 15/20 minute tablets on the scenographic route. They do not require a reservation and are offered at no additional cost to the admission price.
2) “In the castle lab”: in a longer format: 1 to 2 hours, these workshops give pride of place to experimentation, thus allowing you to deepen certain themes. They are offered on Wednesdays or Sundays, by reservation, throughout the year at the price of €6 per child and €8 per adult.
3) "The observatory's meetings": all year round, the castle organizes talks with recognized specialists in the theme: historian, artist, craftsman, archaeologist... These guests have only one watchword : popularize. Dates will take place on Sunday mornings with a coffee/croissant welcome for the price of an entrance ticket to the castle (7€) at the rate of one every two months.
History, culture and heritage :
Built in the XNUMXth century, it was used in the XNUMXth century as a residence for the nobles of Loche, bailiffs of Faucigny. Its massive facades are brightened up by large Renaissance mullioned windows. Its square tower is surmounted by a cob roof which rests on a battlement. Its iron-clad ogival door gives access to a beautiful spiral staircase. During the XNUMXth century, it was transformed into apartments.
Some dates :
1310: Hugues, Dauphin of Viennois and Baron of Faucigny, granted the inhabitants of Sallanches their first privileges, a sign of the town's prosperity.
1339: The parish had 15 strongholds and 20 noble families.
1563: At the end of the XNUMXth century, it belonged to the Loche family, bailiffs of Faucigny.
1754th century: it belonged to the de Chasseys who sold it in XNUMX to the chapter of the collegiate church of Sallanches.
1730: The Château des Rubins belonged to Etienne de Choulay
1747: The ecclesiastical institution (Chapter of Sallanches) acquired the castle from Philibert de Chasseys and Georgine de Menthon de Choulex.
1840: The Château des Rubins is miraculously spared from the flames of the great fire. It is also from this date that the castle bore the name of "grey cats" because three old ladies dressed in gray lived there.
1978: The castle is bought by the City of Sallanches where the Center de la Nature Montagnarde is installed until 2020. It will be modified in 1997 and will include two additional levels with a passageway which will allow the link with the old building.
It now hosts the Observatoire des Alpes, a museum on the mountain, environment, ethnology, etc.
Themes:
- Natural Sciences
- Science and technology
- Environment
- Ethnology
- Geology
- Natural History
- minerals
Location details
Free parking two minutes walk from the Château: Lévaud car park.
Visit
Average duration of the individual visit: 90 min
Average duration of the group visit: 90 min
Group accepted from 10 people
Customers
- School groups welcome
- Cycle 1: nursery school (PS, MS, GS)
- Cycle 2: elementary school (CP, CE1, CE2)
- Cycle 4: college (5th, 4th, 3rd)
- High school
- Reception of summer camps
- Children from 3 to 5 years old
- Children from 6 to 12 years old
- Young people from 13 to 17 years old
- Higher Education
- Cycle 3: elementary school (CM1, CM2)
- Cycle 3: college (6th)
Individual visit services
- Unguided individual tours permanently
Group visits services
- Unguided group tours permanently
Opening
In order to view the different information, you can use the navigation arrows placed to the right of the table
Exceptional closure(s): January 01, 2023, December 25, 2023
Reservation
It is necessary to reserve for all our activities via our Patrivia online ticket office: https://patrivia.net/visit/chateau-des-rubins;tracking=iSSkbMOxrzvK8JhZgCzoD8lc2eZ5tUcQ
Pricing
Pricing | Min. | Max. |
---|---|---|
Full price |
7.5 $ | - |
Reduced price |
6 $ | - |
Kids |
6 $ | - |
Big family |
21 $ | - |
Château des Rubins ambassador pass: €22 (entrance all year round)
Visit and adult workshop or lab: €8,50
Visit and workshop or school activity: €6,50
Group adults: 6,50€
Group of people with reduced mobility: €6
It is necessary to reserve for all our activities via our Patrivia online ticket office: https://patrivia.net/visit/chateau-des-rubins;tracking=iSSkbMOxrzvK8JhZgCzoD8lc2eZ5tUcQ
Free for less than 5 years.
Payment method
Services
Equipments
Activities on site
- Animation
- Permanent exhibition
Home animals
Pets are not accepted.
Accessibility
- Site, building fully accessible