Gruyères Castle, Cheese, and Chocolate Private Tour from Zurich
Overview
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.
Inclusions
- Private local expert guide
- Standard rail ticket (1st class ticket provided upon request)
- Private transfers in Gruyères's region
- La Maison Gruyères cheesemaking visit
- La Maison Gruyères cheese cellars view
- Château de Gruyères visit
- Cailler factory visit and chocolate tasting
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Zurich, Zurich
Your guide will meet you at your hotel, and take you to the train station via some of their favorite local sights. From here you will ride first class to our first discovery.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: La Gruyere, La Gruyere, Canton of Fribourg
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gruyeres, Gruyeres, La Gruyere, Canton of Fribourg
Next, a short scenic hike will bring us to the delightful town of Gruyere, 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!
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Broc, Broc, La Gruyere, Canton of Fribourg
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.
Master chocolatiers will show you how to craft your own unique box of truffles, using foolproof ganache techniques. Take your chocolates home, or eat them on the train!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Zurich, Zurich
After a full day of food and adventure, it's time to head back to your hotel. Your guide will ensure you have a comfortable journey back to your hotel or residence in Zurich.
Duration: 3 hours
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Zurich, Zurich
Your guide will meet you at your hotel, and take you to the train station via some of their favorite local sights. From here you will ride first class to our first discovery.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: La Gruyere, La Gruyere, Canton of Fribourg
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gruyeres, Gruyeres, La Gruyere, Canton of Fribourg
Next, a short scenic hike will bring us to the delightful town of Gruyere, 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!
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Broc, Broc, La Gruyere, Canton of Fribourg
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.
Master chocolatiers will show you how to craft your own unique box of truffles, using foolproof ganache techniques. Take your chocolates home, or eat them on the train!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Zurich, Zurich
After a full day of food and adventure, it's time to head back to your hotel. Your guide will ensure you have a comfortable journey back to your hotel or residence in Zurich.
Duration: 3 hours
Additional information
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Face masks provided for travelers
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Getaway54986796346
March 2023
This was an incredible day trip & Jonas was a great guide! He met my Mom and I at our hotel and was very punctual. We traveled by train to Gruyères and went to the cheese museum and got samples to take back to the hotel. Great experience and the cheese tasted amazing (to say the least). We then ...
This was an incredible day trip & Jonas was a great guide! He met my Mom and I at our hotel and was very punctual. We traveled by train to Gruyères and went to the cheese museum and got samples to take back to the hotel. Great experience and the cheese tasted amazing (to say the least). We then went to a beautiful castle...breathtaking scenery! We were able to explore the castle at our leisure. Jonas then recommended a restaurant right outside of the castle for lunch. He gave us ideas as to what to order and the food was DELICIOUS. We then made our way to the Callier chocolate factory. The factory had a capturing, interactive museum with an abundance of samples at the end. Finally, we made our train trek back to Zurich. Jonas walked us back to our hotel and gave us his number in case we had questions during the remainder of our stay in Zurich. Jonas was incredibly knowledgeable and professional. He was a pleasure to spend the day with. My mom and I had a blast! We wouldn't have been able to logistically plan this trip on our own, so I would definitely recommend this incredible experience.DivinaDG32
December 2022
Jonas gave us the most incredible and personalized trip one could ask for! He was extremely knowledgeable about Switzerland and the locations we visited! We visited the beautiful city of Gruyere as well as the Cailler chocolate company and had an amazing time at both! Would highly highly recommen...
Jonas gave us the most incredible and personalized trip one could ask for! He was extremely knowledgeable about Switzerland and the locations we visited! We visited the beautiful city of Gruyere as well as the Cailler chocolate company and had an amazing time at both! Would highly highly recommend it.T585GDmelissas
November 2022
Excellent tour. Everything was stunning and perfect. Our guide, Jonas, was unparalleled. Couldn’t have been better. We absolutely loved the day!
Excellent tour. Everything was stunning and perfect. Our guide, Jonas, was unparalleled. Couldn’t have been better. We absolutely loved the day!Christopher_G
July 2022
Better than expected! I only wish viator had a better detailed description of what this tour offers, because it was so much. Our Guide, Jonas, was one of the best we've had anywhere in the world. He was polite and knowledgeable, and made the whole experience that much better. This tour is long an...
Better than expected! I only wish viator had a better detailed description of what this tour offers, because it was so much. Our Guide, Jonas, was one of the best we've had anywhere in the world. He was polite and knowledgeable, and made the whole experience that much better. This tour is long and tiring, yes, but there is so much you get to see and experience. We would have had a very hard time accomplishing this much in one day without Jonas.Pritpal B
February 2022
Our tour wonderful and insightful tour guide was Jonas. He was really delightful to chat with and knew a lot of about the region and the history behind many important parts of Swiss culture.
Our tour wonderful and insightful tour guide was Jonas. He was really delightful to chat with and knew a lot of about the region and the history behind many important parts of Swiss culture.199reneep
September 2021
Excellent day trip from Zurich. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and took care to make sure we were having a great time. Was fantastic to see a different part of Switzerland that we would not have felt comfortable exploring on our own with navigating the trains in particular. Choco...
Excellent day trip from Zurich. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and took care to make sure we were having a great time. Was fantastic to see a different part of Switzerland that we would not have felt comfortable exploring on our own with navigating the trains in particular. Chocolate and cheese were absolutely fantastic! Would absolutely do this again and highly recommend!