The vibrant and stimulating hot air balloon festival began in Switzerland, bedecking the skies with balloons of unusual styles.
Tourists from around the world throng the 40th international annual festival held in Château-d’Oex, Switzerland. Pilots from around 20 countries are also taking part in the event.
The festival is held around the same time each year in accordance with the exceptional winter climate of the Alps, where an approximate number of a hundred hot air balloons ascend through the skies.
What started off back in 1979, has now evolved on to a much larger platform where hot air balloons of all shapes, sizes and styles are on display for thousands of eyes.
The festival reserves one day exclusively for children where confined balloon flights and grand balloon release bring tremendous amusement to the little ones.
The municipality of Château-d’Oex has a strong historical link to hot air balloons, as it was from this place that Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones took off in a hot air balloon for the first world tour.
The multihued festival that kicked off on January 27th will go on till the 4th of February.