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The Old Customs House
Interpretation Centre
in Châtel
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Open the door of Châtel's Old Customs House to discover a different side to this cross-border region.
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Children and adults will enjoy a fascinating trip back in time, learning about the game of cat and mouse that went on between the smugglers and the customs officers (known as "gabelous") in the mountains of the Portes du Soleil before the advent of winter sports. With lots of eyewitness accounts and a fascinating exhibition packed with documents and illustrations, the Old Customs House tells the story of a picturesque world full of surprises!
New temporary exhibition: "Everything to...Children and adults will enjoy a fascinating trip back in time, learning about the game of cat and mouse that went on between the smugglers and the customs officers (known as "gabelous") in the mountains of the Portes du Soleil before the advent of winter sports. With lots of eyewitness accounts and a fascinating exhibition packed with documents and illustrations, the Old Customs House tells the story of a picturesque world full of surprises!
New temporary exhibition: "Everything to declare!... from the customs office to the smuggling museum".
From its construction in the 1920s to the departure of the last gabelous in 2009 and the first visits to the interpretation centre, a lot has happened at the Châtel customs office! This unique temporary exhibition tells the anecdotes of the former gabelous who occupied these premises for almost a century!
There are also activities on offer during the tourist season: recruitment sessions for future customs officers, audio trails following in the footsteps of smugglers, secret missions for the whole family to undertake, guided tours… There’s something for everyone!
Groups are welcome year-round by reservation only (minimum of 10 people).
- In June and September: guided tours Tuesday through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. by reservation.
- In July and August: guided tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM and on Wednesdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM by reservation
High visitor volume in case of rain:
In this case, due to the building’s limited capacity, visitors may be asked to wait outside.
The wait time may be up to approximately 30 minutes.
The Culture and Heritage Department team thanks you for your understanding.
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Environment
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Spoken languages
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Documentation
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Groups (Max capacity)
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Services
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Accessibility
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Activities
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Equipment
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Services
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Rates
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Payment methods
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From October 19, 2025 to November 1, 2026
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From December 20, 2026 to November 7, 2027
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Adult4.50 €
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Child3.50 €
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Group adults3.50 €
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Group children3.50 €
Family entrance: €3.50 per person (1 adult + 1 child)
Discount with the Multi Pass: adult: €3, children (8-15 yrs old): €2.50
Discount with the Multi Pass: adult: €3, children (8-15 yrs old): €2.50
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Adult4.50 €
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Child3.50 €
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Group adults3.50 €
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Group children3.50 €
Family entrance: €3.50 per person (1 adult + 1 child)
Discount with the Multi Pass: adult: €3, children (8-15 yrs old): €2.50
Discount with the Multi Pass: adult: €3, children (8-15 yrs old): €2.50
Openings
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From
December 20, 2026
until April 25, 2027 -
From
June 13, 2027
until June 25, 2027 -
From
June 26, 2027
until June 27, 2027 -
From
June 28, 2027
until August 29, 2027
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MondayClosed-
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Tuesday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Wednesday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Thursday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Friday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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SaturdayClosed-
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Sunday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Dates to be confirmed
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MondayClosed-
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Tuesday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Wednesday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Thursday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Friday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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SaturdayClosed-
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Sunday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Dates to be confirmed
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Saturday10:00 AM - 12:00 PM2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Sunday10:00 AM - 12:00 PM2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Dates to be confirmed
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MondayClosed-
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Tuesday10:00 AM - 12:00 PM2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Wednesday2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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Thursday10:00 AM - 12:00 PM2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Friday2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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SaturdayClosed-
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Sunday2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Dates to be confirmed