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Gruyères Medieval Village: Cheese and Chocolate Making Private Tour from Zurich
5.0
6 Ratings
Zurich
Embark on a private tour from Zurich to the medieval village of Gruyères, where you’ll learn the secrets of cheese and chocolate making. Explore the historic village, taste freshly made Gruyères cheese, and indulge in the creamy delights of Cailler chocolate.
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- 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.
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La Gruyere - 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. - Gruyeres - 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!
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Broc - 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! - 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.
What's Included
- Private local expert guide
- Chocolate Factory Visit
- Gruyères Cheese Factory Visit
- Standard rail ticket (1st class ticket provided upon request)
- Private transfers in Gruyères’s region
- Château de Gruyères Entrance Ticket
What's Not Included
- Raclette or fondue lunch in Gruyères
Additional Information
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.
Location
Zurich
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
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Getaway54986796346
Mar 15, 2023
Loved this day trip, highly recommend--breathtaking views and great cheese & chocolate! - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Divinadg32
Dec 1, 2022
Perfect day trip in Switzerland - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T585gdmelissas
Nov 16, 2022
Taste Switzerland - Excellent tour. Everything was stunning and perfect. Our guide, Jonas, was unparalleled. Couldn’t have been better. We absolutely loved the day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christopher_g
Jul 25, 2022
Wonderful - 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.
Review provided by Viator
Pritpal
Feb 2, 2022
Family Visit - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
199reneep
Sep 9, 2021
Great Experience! - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
