La Maison du Gruyère
La Maison du Gruyère is a cheese factory and show dairy, right next to the railway station of the medieval town Gruyères. Visitors can learn about cheese-making in an interactive exhibition, watch the process and taste products.
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Meet La Maison du Gruyère
La Maison de Gruyère, which means 'The home of Gruyère', is a cheese factory and show dairy. Cheese called 'Le Gruyère AOP' is made here. It’s named after the district La Gruyère in the canton of Fribourg. The medieval town here is called Gruyères with an 's'.
This is what a visit to La Maison du Gruyère looks like
You can start your visit with a 30- to 45-minute tour through the interactive exhibition. You’ll be given a headset with audio information, available in many languages. This allows you to learn about the region, the cow herds and their farmers and the cheese-making process.
From the gallery, you’ll be able to look down into the actual factory. This is where cheese makers are turning 2 deliveries of fresh regional milk into about 48 wheels of cheese each day. At the end of the tour, you can also take a peek in the huge cellar, where the cheese is stored.
The restaurant serves lunch and dinner. Lots of regional and Swiss dishes are served, and of course many of those feature Le Gruyère AOP. You can choose from fondues, quiches, rösti, risotto and many more meals.
You can also buy cheese, fondues, cream, butter, sweets and other local and Swiss products from the shop.
Add other activities to your trip to La Maison du Gruyère
The medieval town Gruyères can be reached in a 15-minute hike from the cheese factory. You can visit the castle there, or enjoy more Swiss delicacies in tea rooms and confectioneries. The chocolate factory Maison Cailler in nearby Broc can be visited too.
When traveling to Gruyères, you can use GoldenPass trains if you like. A ride with the Chocolate Train from Montreux is an option too. Find all options here.
If you’re interested in the region’s historical connection to dairy, you can walk (part of) the dairy and cheese hiking route.
The history of Gruyère cheese
The production of cheese in this region can be traced back to the 12th century. Local inhabitants already turned their herds’ milk into cheese, which was sold even in France and Italy. Knowledge and techniques improved over the centuries.
The Gruyère cheese was granted the AOP label in 2011. This stands for 'Protected Designation of Origin' and ensures the protection of goods and their origin. Ever since, it’s called 'Le Gruyère AOP'.