Gruyères Castle, Cheese, and Chocolate Private Tour from Zurich | La Vacanza Travel

Gruyères Castle, Cheese, and Chocolate Private Tour from Zurich

Duration: 11 hours
Destination: Switzerland, Switzerland, Zurich
from
1400.01

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  • 11 hours
  • Zurich
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

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.

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 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!

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. 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!

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

Inclusions
  • Private local expert guide
  • Standard rail ticket (1st class ticket provided upon request)
  • Private transfers in Gruyères's region
  • Gruyères Cheese Factory Visit
  • Château de Gruyères Entrance Ticket
  • Chocolate Factory Visit

Exclusions
  • Raclette or fondue lunch in Gruyères
  • Near public transportation
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

Traveler pickup is offered


Departure Time

09:00 AM

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

11 hours


User's Reviews

Getaway54986796346

15 Mar, 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 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

01 Dec, 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 recommend it.

T585GDmelissas

16 Nov, 2022

Excellent tour. Everything was stunning and perfect. Our guide, Jonas, was unparalleled. Couldn’t have been better. We absolutely loved the day!

Christopher_G

25 Jul, 2022

Better than expected! I only wish La Vacanza Travel 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

02 Feb, 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.

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