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The Old Customs House
Description
Open the door of Châtel's Old Customs House to discover a different side to this cross-border region.
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!
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Date and time
- From 01/07/2026 to 30/08/2026
- From 01/09/2026 to 20/09/2026
Additional information
Updated by
Châtel Tourisme - 03/07/2026
www.chatel.com
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Price(s)
Adult: 4.50 €
Child : 3.50 €
Group adults: 3.50 €
Group children : 3.50 €.
Free entry for children under 8.
Child entry valid for 8 - 15 years.
Group rate available for 10 people or more.
Supplement for guided visit: €2/adult
Family: €3.50 per person (1 adult + 1 child)
Groups of adults or children on self-guided or guided tours (by reservation, min. 10
people): €3.50.
One accompanying adult free for every 10 children enrolled.
Discounts with the Multi Pass (summer):
Adult: €3
Children (8-15yrs old): €2.50.
Contact
Phone :
04 50 71 75 11
04 57 26 90 04
Email : culture-et-patrimoine@mairiedechatel.fr
Promotional offers
MULTI PASS DISCOUNT | Adult and child admission | Summer: 30% discount on presentation of a valid Multi Pass
Location complements
Shuttle line 4 in winter or line 2 in summer, stop "Les Fioles".
Parking nearby.
Reception complements
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.
Animals
Yes. Dogs must be kept on a leash.
Data author
