Castle Chillon - Gruyeres - Gruyeres cheese factory -

Route: Geneva - Chateau de Chillon - Gruyeres - Gruyeres cheese factory - Geneva
Duration: 9 h
Firstly we will visit the Chillon Castle in its current form is the result of several centuries of construction and redevelopment. The excavations carried out from the end of the 19th century, particularly those led by archaeologist Albert Naef (1862-1936), indicate that the site has been occupied since the Bronze Age. The rocky island on which the castle sits constituted both a form of natural protection and a strategic positioning to control passage from the north to the south of Europe. The fortress took on the oval shape of the genuine island upon which it was built. It is approximately 100m long and 50 m wide. It also took its name from the rock; the word ‘Chillon’ meant ‘rocky platform’ in an ancient language. During the tour you will visit the medieval Chillon Castle and see the health-improving thermal baths,  the cellar, prison, great halls, the Bernese chamber, the duke’s chamber, the chapel or even the sentry walks. You’ll learn why the ‘forgotten chambers’ aren’t quite what they seem… and find out that famous prisoner François Bonivard fathered 16 children! Next we will drive to Gruyere. There we will visit to Gruyeres Castle takes you on a journey through eight centuries of history and legends. Gruyeres Castle has stood proudly atop a verdant hill on the threshold of Fribourg’s imposing Alpine foothills since the 13th century. Today, the medieval fortress houses prestigious collections that bear witness to its long and eventful history. You can travel back through the ages and discover its remarkable treasures: the intricate stained-glass windows dating from the Middle Ages and Charles the Bold’s capes of the Order of the Golden Fleece; the wall decorations commissioned by the bailiffs under the Ancien Regime; the paintings by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot; and the troubadour decorations of the Knights’ Room, created at Gruyeres in the 19th century by a colony of passionate artists. Gruyères, a land of legends, also has many stories to tell: of La Belle Luce, John the Cripple, the jester Chalamala and the heroic women of Gruyeres who used their goats as weapons. After this visit we will go to La Maison du Gruyère invites you to discover the king of cheeses: Le Gruyère AOP. It is located in its very birthplace, close to the mountain pastures and at the foot of Gruyeres Castle. The House of Gruyere is a modern cheese-making factory where you will have a tasting in a typical Swiss chalet, a friendly hand-making cheese factory. There you will try the famous Gruyeres cheese and the “Vacherin Fribourgeois”, two cheeses mixed for the typical dish, Swiss fondue. Also you can visit to the Chocolaterie de Gruyeres, which has the chocolate range, its flagship product is “bean to bar” dark and milk chocolate. “Bean to bar” means the company controls every step of the chocolate making process, from A to Z. Because the production process is complex and requires the use of a number of machines, it is not that common in Switzerland.The range also includes delicious pralines and other chocolates made with regional products, such as double cream, milk from Fribourg, cherries from Cheseaux-Noréaz and Swiss kirsch. There you will find chocolate beer and a whole range of salted chocolate products. In addition, starting this summer, you’ll be able to sample a chocolate vinegar.After we will return to Geneva.
Price: Per person