FIVE GREAT THINGS TO DO IN GRUYÈRES

During the quiet week between Christmas and New Year’s, we decided to hop on a series of trains and show Gregg’s parents some of our favorite spots in Switzerland. Our first spot was the lovely, medieval town of Gruyères. Gruyères is known for the cheese of the same name, and the medieval town sits on a hilltop, providing gorgeous mountain views. So, does this small town offer many activities? Yes! We have devised a list of five great things to do in Gruyères!

1. Moléson

Have you always dreamed about visiting the summit of a mountain in Switzerland? Well, Moléson is a great choice! In order to get to the summit, take the funicular from Moléson-sur-Gruyères to Plan Francey. Once you’re off the funicular, hop on the cable car to get to the summit. The summit reaches 2,002 meters or 6,568 feet.

We experienced a whiteout at the summit, but we were able to enjoy some beautiful views as we came back down to Plan Francey. You can sled, ski or just enjoy the views, but make sure to dress warm!

2. La Maison du Gruyère

Who else loves Gruyère cheese as much as a we do? The cheese factory is directly across the street from the Gruyères train station! It is also open every day of the year!

If you would like to see the cheese production in person, make sure to get there in the morning. We visited in the afternoon and the workers were done for the day. Also, tickets cannot be purchased online. The building also has a store, restaurant and playground outside in addition to the audio tour of the factory. There is so much cheesy goodness in this experience!

3. Maison Cailler

What is the next best thing a town can offer other than cheese? It’s CHOCOLATE of course! Cailler is the oldest chocolate manufacturer in Switzerland. This company has made delicious chocolates for over 200 years (since 1819).

To get to Maison Cailler from Gruyères, we took a train and bus that totaled about 30 minutes. Make sure to book your tickets ahead of time as the tours can fill up quick! Maison Cailler offers a one-hour museum tour with an audio guide that takes you through the history of chocolate. There are a few tasting areas throughout the tour as well as a huge offering of chocolates at the end. If you’re a fan of hot chocolate, we recommend buying the delicious Cailler hot chocolate at the cafe and gift store! We all loved it!

4. Château de Gruyères

One of our favorites things to do in any Swiss, medieval town is to check out the castle! Château de Gruyères was first mentioned in 1244, and it was constructed to be protected by a square-like enclosure. The corners also contain overhanging turrets. We all loved exploring this beautiful castle! And, it even has a Grand Tour photo spot out front!

5. Explore Gruyères

Gruyères is one of the most charming villages in Switzerland that we have visited. It is a medieval town located on a hilltop in the Fribourg canton. There are delicious restaurants, amazing views and fun shops throughout the small village. During our time in Gruyères, we visited Auberge de la Halle and Remparts. Both of these restaurants were delicious, and we would highly recommend either for delicious and authentic Swiss food.

Are you ready to visit Gruyères? To see more from our time in Gruyères, we would love for you to check out our video on Youtube!

Hope you are having a wonderful start to the New Year! Thank you so much for wandering along with us!