annalynn

I had my heart set on riding the Chocolate Train when we visit in May. It sounds a bit hokey, but the idea of combing my husband's love of trains and castles, and my love of chocolate and cheese was sublime. Now I find out that it doesn't start running until June (sob).

We weren't going to Gruyeres otherwise. I'm sure we can buy our own train tickets and daytrip it, but it won't be on the old Pullman cars. From reading posts here, it seems many weren't that excited about the Broc sidetrip and factory tour anyways. So my question for y'all is this: if I buy train tickets on my own to get us to Gruyeres and back, is it simple enough to get from the train station to the cheese factory and to the castle? I couldn't find this answer in my books, or using simple google searches, so I'm hoping someone else here has, at some point, attempted this in the past (we'll be coming from Vevey).

Alternatively, is there another cheese factory/farm you can recommend? I keep reading about small little cheesemakers in barns about a mile up this hike, but that seems a bit dicey to me. Or am I just not being adventurous or not? I hate leaving my cheese experience to chance!

swandav2000

Hi annalynn,

Yes, well, the trip to Gruyeres might well be in the Pullman cars -- why not? They are used regularly on this route; they are not reserved only for the Chocolate train!

Yes, it is dead-easy to get from the train station in Gruyeres up to the village and castle. The train station is right next to the cheese factory, so that's obviously no problem. To get to the village and the castle, you just have to follow the walking path up the hill, it's easy to see.

If you'd like to just get oriented, take a look at google maps. Just do a search for "gruyeres switzerland" and then tool down to a detailed view. You may also find the "street view" option a good thing to look at to see it.

Here's a link to my "review" of Gruyeres, and there are photos of the walk up to the village:

Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html


Have fun!

s

swandav2000

Hi again,

To get the route from Montreux to Gruyeres, use the Swiss rail site at

www.rail.ch

For the portion from Montreux to Montbovon, you can travel on one of the Golden Pass cars. If you travel in the Golden Pass Panoramic, you'll have huge windows to view the countryside. Here's a link:

http://www.goldenpass.ch/goldenpass_..._zweisimmen_en

If you travel in the Golden Pass Classic, you'll be in the romantic Pullman cars. Here's a link:

http://www.goldenpass.ch/goldenpass_..._zweisimmen_en

You can find out when each car will be running from the rail site above. Once you get the basic schedule, scroll down to the "details" for each connection. On the right hand side of the "details" column will be "Comments," and it will say either Golden Pass Classic or Golden Pass Panoramic.

So, hope you can get what you're looking for!

s

Paragkash

Hi Swandav,

we will be going to Gruyeres and Broc in May 10.
Your photos and report on tripadvisor is fabulous.
How much time do I anticipate at Gruyeres and Broc, individually, if I am on a day trip?
Google map shows a bus stop near Grueres town and Castle. Is there a bus service from the rail station?

please help.

swandav2000

Hi Paragkash,

Yes, there is a bus that will take you from the train station up to the village (not sure exactly where). But the walk itself is about 15 minutes, and it's gorgeous -- I've never been tempted to use the bus service.

I'm sorry, but I think it's impossible to know how long someone else would like to stay in town. There are numerous shops to visit, as well as the castle itself, and of course the museum dedicated to the Swiss artist Giger (who designed the alien in the Alien movies). However, I've never done any of that -- I enjoy seeing places like the backside of the castle!

One thing I would strongly recommend you do is have at least a bite to eat -- their berries in Gruyeres cream (or double cream) is unfrogettable.

I've also never gone to Broc (the bus stop there is Broc Fabrique for the factory).

I'm so happy you like the photos! I know you'll have a wonderful time in Gruyeres, one of my favorite places to visit (but can be very touristy).

Have fun!

s

kappa1

> the museum dedicated to the Swiss artist Giger (who designed the alien in the Alien movies).

Geiger Museum was somewhat scarely and there were areas that were not allowed to to children (perhaps just not recommended?) due to the sexual, S&M like contents of the exhibition. But I used to be a Sci-Fi fan so visited the museum when I was in the village, when it opened. A bit scarely maybe but it was cool to find a table and chairs that were used for Dune movie (Geiger designed the costumes and furniture for that movie too). That was when the museum opened 10 years ago and they were building Geiger Café on the other side of the street with those gothic, monstrous furniture.

I have not been to Broc neither. That's just not the kind of fun I like, I mean the chocolate factory (I do like trains) even though I live in Geneva for quite some time now. Actually I know nobody at work nor my friends who has done that. Perhaps we consider that for kids and tourists (no offfence to you !). There seems to be lots of school groups that visit the factory, understandably.

kappa1

Geiger > Sorry that's Giger as Swandav spelled correctly.

annalynn

Thank you very much for the info, swandav2000 amd kappa1!

Swandav2000, your trip report and photos on Gruyeres are beautiful and incredibly helpful and have doubled my resolve to get there, and try the berries in Gruyeres cream. Yummm... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

I did see that the Broc cholcoate factory is being redone and reopening in April, so maybe it will be better. I'm still not sure about going there, it looks as if Gruyeres will keep us quite busy. And I know my sci-fi fan husband will want to visit the Geiger Museum. I might jus tlet him do that on his own while I spend more time with the cream and berries.

Paragkash

Thanks Swandav for the info. I think you are responsible for changing plans of so many fodorites (including myself) to Gruyeres and Gstaad.
These two places should pic you up as their Brand Ambassador.

Annalynn, Thanks for posting this topic.

Kappa1, Thanks for the info. I do have 2 teenage kids with me, who are looking forward to the Chocolate factoty visit. I personally feel that they show a film on chocolate making and do not show the actual process, which is sad.

I am not a museum person, so will prefer to walk a bit in Gruyeres.

And the Berries and double cream... yummmeee..
My mouth is already watering...

swandav2000

Thanks kapp1 -- I got the spelling from the website of its museum, as I wasn't sure before I posted.

Paragkash -- how cool that would be! Maybe I'd get a free overnight, lol. Right now, I'm trying to figure out if I can afford a week there this August during the Menuhin Fest. Probably not, rats!

Y'all will really hate me for that recommendation for double cream. Oh, and more -- you can also buy it at a dairy in Vevey. Big uh oh.

s