Grand Chalet of Rossinière
Description
The village of Rossinière is renowned for its architecture, with its charming chalets with elaborate facades. Among these typical Vaud Alpine buildings - to be discovered along a didactic walk - the Grand Chalet impresses by its size and details.
The Grand Chalet de Rossinière exceeds all superlatives: 500 m2 of floor space, 5 floors, 113 windows, a dedication painted on the front of 2800 letters. It is the largest habitable wooden house in Switzerland in a region, the Pays-d'Enhaut, which has pushed wooden constructions to a high level of refinement. The Grand Chalet was built between 1752 and 1756 for Jean David Henchoz, a farmer, notary, judge and curial who wanted to create "a house for cheese". The cellar dictated the dimensions of the chalet: it is designed for 600 wheels of cheese in the maturing phase. In 1977, the painter Balthus (1908-2001), Count Balthazar Klossowski de Rola, bought the Grand Chalet. He lived there with his wife and daughter, painted and hosted the European social and artistic scene in Rossinière. The Grand Chalet is a private property and cannot be visited.
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The village of Rossinière is renowned for its architecture, with its charming chalets with elaborate facades. Among these typical Vaud Alpine buildings - to be discovered along a didactic walk - the Grand Chalet impresses by its size and details.
The Grand Chalet de Rossinière exceeds all superlatives: 500 m2 of floor space, 5 floors, 113 windows, a dedication painted on the front of 2800 letters. It is the largest habitable wooden house in Switzerland in a region, the Pays-d'Enhaut, which has pushed wooden constructions to a high level of refinement. The Grand Chalet was built between 1752 and 1756 for Jean David Henchoz, a farmer, notary, judge and curial who wanted to create "a house for cheese". The cellar dictated the dimensions of the chalet: it is designed for 600 wheels of cheese in the maturing phase. In 1977, the painter Balthus (1908-2001), Count Balthazar Klossowski de Rola, bought the Grand Chalet. He lived there with his wife and daughter, painted and hosted the European social and artistic scene in Rossinière. The Grand Chalet is a private property and cannot be visited.