Paid
Ciné Mont-Blanc
Sallanches
A neighbourhood cinema at the heart of the Pays du Mont-Blanc, Ciné Mont-Blanc runs several digital screens to offer families in the Arve valley a full programme:
Paid · Book online
Château des Rubins
A 14th-century fortified house spared by the Revolution and the 1840 fire, now an immersive interpretation centre on the mountains: 500 m², 4 floors, 50+ interactive modules.
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
14th-century fortified house + modern interpretation centre
Access
Paid entry (free under 5 and for visitors with disabilities)
Price
Adult €7.50 · Reduced €6.50 · Family pass €23
Duration
1 h 30 to 2 h 30
Best season
Year-round
Parking
Free nearby (Montée des Rubins)
Animals
Not admitted (museum)
Stroller / Reduced mobility
Allowed in all rooms (lift)
Town
Sallanches
Wheelchair access
Accessible Source: Sallanches Mont-Blanc Tourisme
💶
Price
Plein tarif adulte
7,50 €Visite expérience Observatoire des Alpes complète
Tarif réduit
6,50 €Enfant 5-18 ans, étudiant, demandeur d'emploi, senior 65+
Pass famille
23,00 €2 adultes + 2 enfants 5-18 ans, économie 5 €
Gratuité totale
0,00 €Moins de 5 ans + situation de handicap
What is Château des Rubins
The Château des Rubins at Sallanches (74700) — sometimes known locally as the 'Maison des Chattes Grises' — is an exceptional heritage building in the Mont-Blanc valley. A 14th-century fortified manor and former residence of the Loche family (bailiffs of Faucigny) in the 16th century, it is remarkable for having been spared by both the French Revolution and the great Sallanches fire of 1840, which destroyed almost the entire old town. It is one of the very few medieval buildings preserved at Sallanches.
From 2019 to 2021 the commune of Sallanches carried out a major heritage renovation to create the Observatoire des Alpes, an immersive interpretation centre on the mountain environment spread over 500 m² and 4 floors, with around fifty interactive modules. The thematic journey covers geology and glaciology, Alpine fauna and flora, the human history of the mountain and climate and adaptation. The route is family-friendly but scientifically rigorous, and works equally well for school groups.
2026 prices: adult €7.50, reduced €6.50 (child 5–18, student, jobseeker, senior 65+), family pass €23 (2 adults + 2 children, saving €5), free under 5 and for visitors with disabilities. Open year-round: Wed–Sun 2pm–6pm outside school holidays, daily 10am–6pm during school holidays and in July–August. Closed 25 December and 1 January. Fully wheelchair accessible thanks to the lift installed during the 2019–2021 renovation — a rarity for a historic castle. Sallanches-Combloux-Megève SNCF station is 10 minutes' walk; free parking nearby.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
105 Montée des Rubins, 74700 Sallanches (signposted from central Sallanches) View on map
Coordinates
≈ 45.938° N · 6.633° E (to be verified on Géoportail)
Altitude
≈ 560 m (central Sallanches)
Opening hours
OPEN YEAR-ROUND. Outside school holidays: Wed-Sun 2pm-6pm, closed Monday and Tuesday. School holidays and July-August: every day 10am-6pm. Last admission 1h before closing. CLOSED 25 DECEMBER and 1 JANUARY. Verified on the official website 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Booking
No booking needed for individuals (on-site ticketing). Groups (10+) and school groups by reservation on +33 (0)4 50 58 32 13 or at sallanchesmontblanc.com. Verified 24 May 2026.
Parking
Free parking near Château des Rubins (Montée des Rubins). Moderate capacity. Additional parking in central Sallanches, 5 min walk away (Place Charles Albert).
Dogs
Not admitted inside Château des Rubins (museum). Possible exception for assistance dogs.
Accessibility
Château des Rubins is FULLY WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE thanks to the lift installed during the 2019-2021 renovation - rare for a historic château. All floors are wheelchair-accessible. Free for visitors with disabilities. Verified 24 May 2026.
Visit duration
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 at Château des Rubins: 4 floors of the Observatoire des Alpes + the 14th-century fortified house + themed guided tours
Contact
+33 (0)4 50 58 32 13 · contact via sallanchesmontblanc.com. Verified 24 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
From Chamonix (≈30 min, 30 km) via D1506 then D1205 to central Sallanches, follow signs for 'Château des Rubins', Montée des Rubins. From Annecy (≈45 min, 55 km) via A40, Sallanches exit. Free parking right by the entrance.
Open in MapsPublic transport
Sallanches-Combloux-Megève SNCF station is a 10-minute walk from Château des Rubins (Saint-Gervais-Vallorcine line, direct TGV line from Paris-Saint-Gervais in season). Mont-Blanc Bus stop 'Sallanches centre' nearby.
Open in MapsBy bike
Mont-Blanc greenway nearby. Bike parking at the entrance to Château des Rubins. Sallanches-Saint-Gervais (15 km) and Sallanches-Combloux (10 km) routes.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- Place Charles Albert · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y86 · 324 m
- Sallanches - Combloux - Megève · SNCF (TER) · 370 m
- Gare · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y81, Y83, Y84, Y85, Y86 · 376 m
- Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Official fares & timetables →
- SNCF (TER) · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
When to visit
When to visit
Château des Rubins is open year-round with seasonal hours. Outside holidays: Wed-Sun 2pm-6pm, ideal for relaxed family visits. School holidays and July-August: every day 10am-6pm, with more activities and visitors. Winter: an ideal cultural refuge for rainy or snowy days (in the warmth), a great complement to a ski day at nearby Combloux or Megève. Summer: an afternoon visit is recommended (mornings are best reserved for outdoor activities). A 14TH-CENTURY FORTIFIED HOUSE SPARED BY THE REVOLUTION AND THE 1840 FIRE - one of the very few medieval buildings preserved in Sallanches. A 2019-2021 RENOVATION by the local council transformed the fortified house into the OBSERVATOIRE DES ALPES (500 m², 4 floors, 50+ interactive modules). A COMPLETE JOURNEY through the geology, flora/fauna, human history and climate of the mountains. FULLY WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE (lift to every floor) - rare for a historic château. FREE for under-5s and visitors with disabilities. Family pass €23. Located in the heart of Sallanches, a 10-minute walk from the SNCF station (TGV from Paris-Saint-Gervais in season).
Events : 2026 programme at sallanchesmontblanc.com: refreshed temporary exhibitions, school-holiday activities for families, Museum Night in mid-May, European Heritage Days in mid-September, scientific workshops for school groups.
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I book at Château des Rubins?
Château des Rubins has open access during opening hours with on-site ticketing. No booking needed for individuals. Groups (10+) and school groups by reservation on +33 (0)4 50 58 32 13 or at sallanchesmontblanc.com.
What is the admission price at Château des Rubins?
Château des Rubins: adult €7.50, reduced €6.50 (ages 5-18, students, jobseekers, seniors 65+), family pass €23 (save €5), free under 5 and for visitors with disabilities. Verified 24 May 2026.
What are the opening hours at Château des Rubins?
Château des Rubins: open year-round. Wed-Sun 2pm-6pm outside school holidays. Every day 10am-6pm during school holidays and in July-August. Closed 25 December and 1 January. Verified on the official website 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
What is the history of Château des Rubins?
Château des Rubins is a 14th-century fortified house, home to the noble de Loche family in the 16th century. Spared by the French Revolution AND the 1840 Sallanches fire that destroyed the old town. One of the few medieval buildings preserved.
What is the Observatoire des Alpes at Château des Rubins?
The Observatoire des Alpes at Château des Rubins is a modern interpretation centre fitted out in 2019-2021: 500 m² over 4 floors, 50+ interactive modules on geology/glaciology, flora/fauna, human history and the climate of the Alps.
Is Château des Rubins accessible to people with reduced mobility?
Yes, fully. Château des Rubins is fully wheelchair-accessible thanks to the lift installed during the 2019-2021 renovation. All floors are wheelchair-accessible. Free for visitors with disabilities.
How can I combine Château des Rubins with the Cascade d'Arpenaz waterfall?
The Cascade d'Arpenaz is 5 km from Château des Rubins. A classic Sallanches day out: Cascade d'Arpenaz in the morning + Château des Rubins in the afternoon = a full day combining science and nature.
How do I get to Château des Rubins from Chamonix?
Château des Rubins is 30 minutes from Chamonix (30 km) via D1506 then D1205 to central Sallanches. The Mont-Blanc Express train stops at Sallanches-Combloux-Megève station, a 10-minute walk away. Free parking nearby.
Featured in our selections
Sources
Sources & verification
- sallanchesmontblanc.com
- combloux.com
- montblancnaturalresort.com
- montsdugenevois.com
- idt-hautesavoie.com
- haute-savoie-tourisme.org
- fr.wikipedia.org
- sallanches.fr
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
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