Discover the Château des Rubins in Sallanches, an unmissable interpretation centre, which will transport you through the great history of the mountains. Explore its fascinating exhibits, immerse yourself in its unique atmosphere and marvel at the treasures it holds. This unique immersive experience, both fun and documented, will satisfy the curious from 5 to 105 years old. If you are looking for an activity for the whole family, You are in the right place !
The Château des Rubins, a jewel of Savoyard cultural heritage
Built in the 1978th century, the Château des Rubins was successively owned by several nobles, before being acquired by the municipality of Sallanches in XNUMX.
Miraculously escaping the Revolution as well as the destructive fire that devastated a large part of the city in 1840, this remarkable cultural heritage of Haute-Savoie remains standing, proudly bearing witness to its past.
Between 2019 and 2021, major renovations were undertaken both inside and outside the building. This restoration played a crucial role in enhancing the architectural unity of the building, in particular making it possible to preserve the existing elements of its built heritage, such as the period entrance door and the black stone staircase of Magland.
Previously managed by the Mountain Nature Center, the Château des Rubins became a municipal service in its own right in 2020.
The Observatoire des Alpes: The new immersive scenography of the Château des Rubins
Thanks to the introduction of an ultra-modern visitor trail, awakening the 5 senses, these restoration works have breathed new life into the Château des Rubins.
Become theAlps Observatory, the new exhibition at the Château des Rubins now offers a incredible interactive scenography of more than 500 m² dedicated to the Great History of the Mountain.
Going beyond environmental education, this essential interpretation center in the Pays du Mont-Blanc will make you aware of the mountain environment around the world, through:
- geoscience disciplines as varied as mineralogy, glaciology, fauna, flora…
- but also themes of human sciences such as ethnology, or even history.
We visited the Observatoire des Alpes for you
History or Earth science enthusiasts, would you like to find out more about the new scenography of the Château des Rubins, unique in Europe?
Never mind: we have explored for you the 5 floors of this former stately home teeming with interactive modules all too captivating as each other.
Discover our feedback on this sensational experience, both entertaining and educational!
The Château des Rubins, an inexhaustible source of original entertainment
As well as offering a unique self-guided tour, Le Château des Rubins also hosts guided tours, exhibitions and storytelling, providing an enriching experience for all.
They are structured around five different annual themes:
- “knock on wood” in December,
- “naked”
- then “plants”
- “les alpages” in summer
- “medieval” in autumn.
These original animations are aimed at an audience from all walks of life. A family with young children (recommended minimum age: five years) will thus have plenty to take care of.
Please note, however, that to participate in the various activities offered by the Château des Rubins, the Reservations is compulsory.
Between escape game, scary evening for Halloween with a fakir, the Rubins castle has definitely not finished surprising us.
Head for the original workshops offered by this magical place!
Rubinoscopes
Although the visit to the Rubins Castle is done in complete autonomy, there is always a moment of mediation aimed at providing the public with additional information on a specific point of the visit.
Called Rubinoscopes, small interactive experiences 15 to 30 minutes, à la “C'est pas sorcier” are offered daily by Robin and Lauriane, the château's cultural mediators.
At the same time playful, dynamic and lively, they make it possible to punctuate the visit with a real encounter.
In the castle lab
Victims of their own success, the rubinoscopes are available in the château's lab.
In a longer format, these are workshops focused on experimentation, allowing a more in-depth exploration of certain themes.
- All year round on Wednesdays and Sundays. Mandatory reservation
- Price: €6 per child and €8 per adult.
Observatory Dates
Throughout the year, the castle organizes friendly meetings around themes as varied as history, art, crafts, archeology...with recognized experts in their field. Their watchword? Popularize! These guests have the objective of making their knowledge accessible to the general public.
- All year round on Sunday morning with a frequency of one meeting every two months.
- The price (price of a castle entrance ticket) includes a cup of coffee and a croissant.
The Flying Castle
The Château Volant is the Château des Rubins which comes to your home especially, just for you.
By bringing in their luggage:
- their knowledge,
- their models
- and their know-how,
the mediators of the Observatoire des Alpes keen on history, botany and ethnology will be able to entertain you at home thanks to their wide range of practical and original workshops.
In short, hosting the Château Volant is a bit like experiencing a live version of the program “C'est pas sorcier” at home!
| Prices | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
| Single price |
200 € | 300 € |
Find all the details in the brochure.
Upcoming events
Find the animations, events and exhibitions of the moment and those to come in the heart of the Rubins castle.
Practical information for the Château des Rubins
Opening time
The Château des Rubins is open all year round, with the exception of November. Find below its opening days and hours according to the seasons.
Prices
In order to better plan your visit to the Château des Rubins – Observatoire des Alpes, find below the current rates for a self-guided visit.
| Prices | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
| Full price |
7.5 € | - |
| Reduced price |
6 € | - |
| Kids |
6 € | - |
| Big family |
21 € | - |
- Means of payment accepted: cash, credit card and check.
Access and parking
The Château des Rubins in Sallanches is located approximately:
- 15 minutes from Combloux,
- 20 minutes from Megeve,
- 35 minutes from Chamonix
- 45 min from Annecy and Geneva (exit n°20 from the A40).
A large car park is available 100m from the castle (follow parking Levaud).
The building also has interior and exterior fittings to guarantee optimal accessibility for people with reduced mobility (PRM).
As such, it is possible to access the floors by elevator, directly from the car park (on request).
Other services offered
To end your visit to the Observatoire des Alpes in style, go to the shop! This fabulous little shop, consistent with the exhibition, offers a selection of local products: biscuits from Sallanches, soaps, beer, books, and many other small handicrafts...
A great opportunity for the visitor to discover the know-how of local craftsmen!
Cultural activities to discover around Sallanches
The Pays du Mont-Blanc is full of cultural sites. Let yourself be seduced by the many riches of the Haute-Savoie heritage!
