Gruyères Castle, Cheese, and Chocolate Tour | From Zurich
Description
A true treat for the senses, this cheese, and chocolate escapade lifts the curtain on the backstage world of cheese and chocolate production in Switzerland. Our adventure begins in the medieval village of Gruyères, famed for the nutty, semi-hard cheese which shares its name. Discover ramshackle 15th-century homes, meandering cobblestone alleys, and one of Switzerland's crowning glory: the magnificent Castle of Gruyères. Treat your tastebuds to a local dairy, where highly-skilled cheesemakers will teach us how to make Gruyères. Sample the iconic cheese fresh from the wheel, and discover the rich history behind the recipe. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to the legendary Cailler Factory, the birthplace of Swiss chocolate. Discover why Cailler chocolate is considered the creamiest in Europe, and watch chocolatiers practicing their art.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your guide will greet you inside the main hall underneath the clock tower of the central train station of Zurich HB before starting the tour
We’ll head to "La Maison du Gruyères”, a traditional dairy where master cheesemakers will reveal the process behind authentic Gruyères AOP cheese. Watch as fresh milk is transformed into delicious Gruyères, using huge copper cauldrons and giant curd presses. Learn how the region produces around 48 wheels a day, all of which undergo a rigorous inspection by Gruyères AOP before they are allowed to be sold with the official label. After the demonstration it's time to indulge your taste buds. Learn to recognize and appreciate the full bodied, nutty flavor of authentic Gruyères as you sample the cheese straight from the wheel.
Next, a short scenic hike will bring us to the delightful town of Gruyères, birthplace of the iconic sweet and salty cheese which shares its name. Nestled within the picturesque Fribourg canton, this medieval town is bursting with rustic charm. Explore the maze of cobblestone pathways, glimpsing panoramic views of the surrounding countryside as you make your way to the hilltop Castle of Gruyères. This stunning fortress dates back to the 13th century, and was once home to the notorious Counts of Gruyères. Now visitors can explore the castle's sordid history, and wander through treasure lined museum rooms and ancient ruins. After the tour we will enjoy a quick lunch stop - but don’t fill up too much!
Stomachs full of cheese, we will make our way to our final stop: the Cailler Chocolate Factory. This legendary cocoa wonderland was created by the grandfather of Swiss chocolate, François-Louis Cailler, whose secret ingredients remain in use today. His iconic chocolate is famous for its rich, creamy flavor, achieved by using condensed milk rather than the standard milk powder used in most other brands. On some days see master chocolatiers at work to demonstrate how to craft their delights using different types of foolproof techniques, at the end you will be able to sample those creation and take your chocolates home, or eat them on your journey back!
After a full day of food and adventure, it's time to head back to Zurich. Your guide will ensure you have a comfortable journey back to the Zurich train station.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(17)
Carlos was a very knowledgeable, personable and passionate guide. He guided us effortlessly through the castle and factory, pointing out items of interest and made the day fun. We would definitely request him again. We were a group of 3 alone on the tour so it was special getting his full attention.
We had the chocolate and cheese tour! Carlos was a wonderful tour guide! We met him at the train station promptly on time. He knew where we were going, explained every part of the journey, and made the trip effortless! He was very personable. He added interesting facts of the cheese factory, the Gruyere castle & village and the Callier chocolate tour. He was so easy to talk to I felt like we had been friends for a long time! The train ride was fun. It was relaxing and an interesting day! I would definitely want him again as my tour guide!
Lincoln was very polite, informative and knowledgeable. Excellent guide!
Carlos was a great guide and trip was fantastic.
Carlos was fantastic! He expertly shepherded us on and off trains and buses and got us exactly where we needed to be on time. Friendly, courteous, and helpful.
Lincoln was a great guide. You get a mix of cheese 🧀 factory, castle and chocolate all in one tour. Lincoln is on top of it and gets you to the trains and busses on time. If you like variety tour take this one.
This trip was wondelful ! Linken., our guide was super ! Cheese and chocolate are very tasty!
Superb trip and a wonderful guide. Thank you Linken for the professional way you guided us.
Tour was fast paced and very informative. We left Zurich early so we were able to catch the cheese making in Gruyere factory. Lincoln was an amazing tour guide! Very knowledgeable.
Gina was our tour guide and she was amazing!!! She was so informative about the cheese and the chocolate. She went above and beyond for us. She was as taking pictures for us and it was great for us just to be able to enjoy the tour without having to stop and take a photo. I would highly recommend this tour.
