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Intro

Fancy spending some time amid a picture-postcard landscape in the heart of Switzerland? The Fribourg Region, especially the village of Charmey, is a charming place to visit: romantic little towns, fragrant Alpine meadows, steaming thermal baths, enchanting lakes, snowy slopes and ancient customs that survive to this very day. Whatever the time of year, you’re guaranteed to have an experience that will delight all your senses.

Description

It’s hardly surprising that this idyllic area has produced a real superstar: Le Gruyère, the world-famous cheese with PDO status. The flavoursome milk used to produce it comes from cows that graze on the fragrant flora and lush grass of Alpine meadows. Alpine cheese dairies in the region are open to the public and happy to show visitors how the delicious cheese is made. And in summer, you can even enjoy Fribourg speciality fondue moitié-moitié (made with Vacherin and Gruyère) while marvelling at the fantastic views of the Moléson and the Fribourg Pre-Alps from the comfort of the Charmey cable car.

The whole area is steeped in agricultural tradition and customs, including wood-shingle roofs, colourful Alpine cattle processions, herb festivals, Poya (paintings depicting the migration of the herds to and from their Alpine pastures) and a romantic farmer’s trail. Speaking of trails, the area is also great for a whole range of outdoor activities thanks to a network of hiking, cross-country skiing and bike trails, not to mention ski slopes. For thrill seekers, there is also paragliding and a zipwire. If you visit the small photogenic town of Gruyères, make sure you have your camera with you. An absolute must for those with a sweet tooth: the Maison Cailler chocolate factory in the little village of Broc.

If you’re looking for relaxation and a bit of a pampering, there’s no place better than Les Bains de la Gruyère, where pools are heated to 34 degrees. The pools are particularly beautiful in winter when steam rises from the water and the surrounding mountains glisten with snow.

Winter

Skiers can take the cable-car up to the Vounetse in the massif of the Dents Vertes. The six lifts, a snowpark, floodlit cross-country tracks, snow-shoe routes and mean there is a wide range of winter sports available. The family-friendly skiing area of Jaun, with its four lifts, also offers all the benefits of a compact skiing area for families with children. There are other nearby skiing areas on the La Berra (1720 m) and Moléson (2002 m).

Summer

For walkers and lovers of Nordic walking and mountain biking, Charmey is just the right place: there are various tracks marked out, for example on the Vounetse mountain (1627 m) with its fine views, and there are maps showing them too. At the middle station of the cable-car you can test your skills and courage in a rope adventure park with five routes. There are signposted paths with information boards about the alpine economy and the flora and fauna, drawing your attention to the special features of the landscape. Finally, at the top station there is an alpine cheesery where Gruyère AOP cheese is still made in the traditional way over a wood fire.

The Jaun Pass connects the Gruyère region with the Simmental in the Bernese Oberland. In summer, the steep, weather-beaten slopes of the Gastlosen (1998m) attract many hikers and climbers to the area. Nearby Jaun, at the foot of an impressive waterfall, is close to the language border between French and German. Here it is worth visiting the old cemetery with its many wooden carvings, recalling the previous occupations of those who are buried there.

Wellness

Let yourself be charmed by the mountains! Charmey offers holidays in a unique setting where nature and tradition are respected and cherished. Discover the many facets of this Prealpine region at any season, all year round.

The idyllic landscape around Charmey is formed of ten valleys. Among the rivers, lakes, Alpine meadows and mountain peaks, hikers and mountain-bikers can find a host of signposted trails of varying levels of difficulty. There are plenty of attractions for families, too – including an adventure rope park, mini-golf and the Rapido Sky gondola. Panoramic cabins (each accommodating 8 people) bring you to the summit of Vounetz (1,650m), and glorious views of the Prealps.

The traditional world of the Alpine pastures twinned with the magic of the “Bains de la Gruyère” spa: wellbeing and relaxation in their purest form!

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Experiences & Activities

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Hotels

  • Charmey, Region of Fribourg Hôtel Cailler 4 Stars

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  • Charmey, Region of Fribourg Résidence Le sapin 3 Stars

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  • Gruyères, Region of Fribourg Le Saint Georges l Stars

    Recommended by Switzerland Tourism
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  • Gruyères, Region of Fribourg Hôtel de Gruyères 3 Stars

    Recommended by Switzerland Tourism
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  • Morlon, Region of Fribourg Hôtel-Restaurant Le Gruyerien 2 Stars

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  • Bulle, Region of Fribourg Hotel Rallye 3 Stars

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  • Bulle, Region of Fribourg ibis Bulle la Gruyere 2 Stars

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Travel information: Charmey