Tour de Gruyère
Overview
Intro
This moderately challenging loop starts at Saanen, a typical Bernese Oberland village, which is easy to get to by train.
Description
The first 35 kilometres are mostly downhill and consist of several sections on delightful roads with moderate traffic.
At Pringy, visiting the Maison du Gruyère is a must for tasting this famous Swiss cheese. You could even do a little detour and climb one kilometre to the village of Gruyères and its magnificent castle. The next village is another mecca when it comes to Swiss specialities: Broc is home to the Maison Cailler, the famous chocolate maker; it also offers guided tours. This is also where the climb starts to Charmey, the first of the day. It is followed by an easier section which takes you to Jaun at the foot of the Mittelberg.
The Mittelberg pass, which tops out at alt. 1633m, forms part of the Gruyère Cycling Tour programme, one of the main challenges in Switzerland’s sports cycling calendar. A rapid descent brings you back to Saanen.
Further information on road cycling in the Gstaad-Saanen region.
Tip from the Grand Tours Project
Do not underestimate the climb to the Mittelberg pass. On paper, its 600m difference in altitude over a distance of 10km does not sound too bad. However, the final few kilometres contain a number of steep inclines that may catch you unawares.
www.grandtoursproject.com
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Type |
Performance
|
|---|---|
| Start location |
Saanen
|
| Destination |
Saanen
|
| Ascent |
1360 m
|
| Descent |
1360 m
|
| Distance |
81 km
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Season |
June - October
|
