Gruyère, Switzerland

Known for both its cheese and its castle, but mainly its cheese, Gruyères is a small area in the mountains of the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The milk for its cheese has to come from farms within a 20km radius and meet stringent requirements to be branded as a Gruyère cheese with certification of origin. Along with Emmentaller, Raclette, and Blue Cheese, Gruyère is also one of my favourite varieties.

The Gruyère cheese factory (the name of the cheese is spelt without an ’s’) is open for visits from the public and will give you a small sampler of 6, 8, and 12-month old Gruyère upon entry. If you want, you can also try 18-month-old Gruyère at the gift shop. In the factory, you’ll be given an audioguide to learn more about the cheesemaking process and the history of Gruyère in relation to its environment.

When you’re done with the Gruyère cheese factory, the old town is less than 5km away on the top of the hill. Situated on a geographically advantageous position overlooking the valleys below on all sides, a castle was built as a home for the counts of Gruyères. Now, the castle is owned by the canton of Freiburg and turned into a museum for all to visit.

Of all the fondue restaurants in town, I brought my own lunch as I wasn’t willing to fork out 40 Francs for a fondue that I could prepare at home with a 40 Franc fondue set. Other attractions in town include a church just below the main plaza of the town and fortifications around the perimeter of the hilltop.

Personally, I found that a two-hour long trip just long enough to see everything. On a good day, you can spot the Cailler Chocolate Factory in the distance!