Our weekend in Gruyères and the surrounding area
Discover ...
... You've probably already eaten it, Gruyère cheese. And you can see how it is made right in the centre of its region of origin in the show dairy «La Maison du Gruyère». Up to four times a day, experts show you how Gruyère AOP is made from milk from 36 farm ovens and where 7000 wheels of cheese are matured. You can learn even more from the «Cerise» cow in an interactive exhibition that appeals to all our senses with a roaring torrent, the scents of alpine flowers, the feel of hides, videos and cheese tastings of the three ripening stages mild, medium and sharp.
La Maison du Gruyère, Place de la Gare 3, Pringy-Gruyères. Admission: adults 6, children (up to 12 years) 3 francs. www.lamaisondugruyere.ch
... A visit to the castle, built in the 13th century, is a walk through eight centuries of architecture, history and culture. It was the seat of the Counts of Gruyères until Count Michel declared himself bankrupt in 1554. The «Gruyères» multimedia show, in which the court jester Chalamala takes you on a journey into the past, is also well worth a visit. You can be whisked away to a completely different world in the second Gruyère castle, St-Germain, which houses the HR Giger Museum. However, the exhibition with its creepy, fantastic figures is less suitable for children with delicate sensibilities. In 1979, Giger won the Oscar for best effects artist for the Hollywood film «Alien». The museum is showing his most important paintings and sculptures.
Gruyères Castle, Rue du Château 8, Gruyères. Admission: adults 10, children (6 to 16 years) 3 francs. www.schloss-greyerz.ch, www.hrgigermuseum.com
Enjoy ...
... Are you one of those people who can't resist chocolate? Then a visit to the Maison Cailler in Broc is a must. Experience the chocolate-making process, watch Aztec cocoa ceremonies, feel roasted cocoa beans and savour the aroma of fresh chocolate - and of course you can taste it too. On the interactive audiovisual tour, you will learn a lot about chocolate production. If you want to go even further and get hands-on, you can attend a workshop in the Atelier du Chocolat where you can make your own creations under the guidance of a Cailler chocolatier.
Maison Cailler, Rue Jules-Bellet 7, Broc. Admission to the Maison: adults 12 francs, children up to 16 free. Workshop: 35 francs per person. Information: www.cailler.ch
... There are various delicacies to savour in the Gruyère restaurants. For example, chalet soup, which used to be prepared in a chalet (Alpine hut) as the herdsmen had no way of getting fresh vegetables during the grazing season. It is made from mountain herbs, milk, potatoes, croissants, cream and Gruyère. Or the «moitié-moitié» fondue, which is made from Gruyère and Vacherin Fribourgeois. And let's not forget the meringues baked in a wood-fired oven, served with double cream in artistically carved wooden melchettes.
www.la-gruyere.ch « Gastronomy » Local products
Overnight stay ...
... Eliane and Jacques Murith welcome you to the «Ferme du Bourgoz», just a few minutes from the railway station. In their farmhouse with a view of the castle and the surrounding mountains, there are three guest rooms: one on the ground floor with a double bed, one on the second floor for three and one for five people. The larger room is spread over two floors and has its own bathroom. And after a restful night's sleep, you can enjoy a breakfast rich in home-made and regional produce. So you're all set for a day in the nearby family ski resort of Moléson (open from mid-December) or a visit to the enchantress trail that starts in Vuadens.
La ferme du Bourgoz, Chemin du Bourgo 14, Gruyères, info@lafermedubourgoz.ch, www.lafermedubourgoz.ch, sample price per night including breakfast: from 150 francs for three people.
... Would you prefer to stay even closer to nature, like the hunters and traders of old in the rocky mountains? «Dormir ailleurs» in Maules offers you the opportunity. You will spend the night in a tent with a solid floor and wood-burning stove. And everything you need to cook your own meals is provided. Breakfast is included and dinner is also available on request.
Fred Pasquier, Devin 11, Maules, info@dormirailleurs.ch, ww.dormirailleurs.ch
Sample price for one night and three people in your own sleeping bag: 170 francs, following night (without breakfast) 80 francs.
