19 october > 2 november / 21 december > 26 april

Guided tour of the Old Customs House

Elevation : 1200m
La Vieille Douane, 1277, route de Vonnes, 74390 Châtel
Let us tell you about the sometimes incredible adventures of the customs officers and smugglers of yesteryear.
The old customs house has been converted into a cultural tourist attraction, showing visitors a different side to this border region. Children and adults will find this 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. Packed with anecdotes, local witness accounts and customs archives, the Old Customs House provides a picturesque, entertaining and richly documented and illustrated account of our local history. And there are lots of surprises in store!

New temporary exhibition: "The Old Customs House celebrates its 10th anniversary".
From its construction in the 1920s to the departure of the last customs officers in 2009 and the first visits to the interpretation centre, a lot has happened at the Châtel customs house! For the 10th anniversary of its opening, the Old Customs House has many surprises in store for you, as well as a brand new temporary exhibition looking back at the history of the building and the brigade that occupied these premises!

Groups are welcome all year-round on advanced booking.

Outside the guided tour times, the Old Customs House is open to the public.

Group: 10 people minimum.

By reservation, a minimum of 4 people is required for the tour to take place.

Documentation

Documentation

Payment methods

Payment methods

Payment methods

Groups (Max capacity)

Groups (Max capacity)
  • 4 Person (s) mini
  • 23 Maximum number of people

Opening times

Opening times

Tuesday
15:30 - 16:30

Wednesday
15:30 - 16:30

Thursday
15:30 - 16:30

Tuesday
15:30 - 16:30

Wednesday
15:30 - 16:30

Thursday
15:30 - 16:30

Location

Location

Guided tour of the Old Customs House
Elevation : 1200m
La Vieille Douane, 1277, route de Vonnes, 74390 Châtel

Spoken languages

Spoken languages
  • French

Access

Access
  • Parking with place for disabled person.
    Stop shuttle nearby: Vonnes stop on line 4 in winter and line 2 in summer.
Updated on 17 September 2025 at 16:07
by Châtel Tourisme
(Offer identifier : 5124283)
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