This probably will be a little corny - but we are somewhat interested in a tour of a (traditional?) chocolate or cheese factory, in Switzerland. We will be there in May and will be spending time in Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen and Zermatt.

Does anyone know of a good place to visit in these areas and can recommend one ?

Thanks !

Hm, so Zermatt won over ST. Moritz area?

I could have recommended one traditional cheese making place (an alpine hut) near St. Moritz (Morteratsch/Pontresina). No idea about Zermatt.

Honestly, I did not like the big (and touristy) ones near Schwyz (Seewen, eastern end of Lake Lucerne) and Gruyeres. Too sterile (and a bit "industrial&quot. There are plenty of smaller cheese making places in the area, just ask the local tourist office when you're there. I recall they offer guided half-day trips.

Thanks Ingo - I am still undecided about Zermatt and St. Moritz ! It got so tough to pick one over the other, I just decided to leave the decision till the last minute !!

Good idea about smaller cheese places - I was under the (wrong) impression that there would be just a few regions that produced cheese, but from what you're saying, it appears to be fairly common. Shows my ignorance !

We did the chocolate train from Montboven while we were in Gstaad, but it actually runs from Montreux. You ride an old railway car and stop at both a cheese factory and a chocolate factory in Gruyeres.

We also visited a small cheese maker in Gimmelwald. They offered to show us the process -- this was truly a small family operation. We didn't do that, but we bought some of the best cheese ever from them. It was a simple place right on the main little "street" in Gimmelwald.

In my research of trip to Switzerland I stumbled upon a chocolate tours of Lindt in Zurich, it was in a guide book, but surprisingly no address! Anybody has more info?

Carl, see you in Zermatt

Ingo--how easy is it to get to the Morteratsch alpine hut you mentioned? Does anyone there speak English? Thanks.

There's a factory outside of Zurich, Lindt I think, that has tours but you won't be able to actually go in the factory. Maybe it's sanitation or keeping secrets but they offer an interesting museum tour along with a free box of chocolates afterwards. Check with the tourist office in the main train station on directions. We went to a cheese factory tour in Gruyere. Very interesting but probably not convenient to where you are planning to go.

Thank you, JE, I will definitely check with the tourist office! I love Lindt!

taxatty - I am not sure if the folks there speak English (I am German and they speak my language there), but I think so. English is very common in the Upper Engadine.

This cheese-making place is only a few steps from the train stop Morteratsch, on the Bernina route St. Moritz/Pontresina - Tirano (I). Regional trains stops there, the Bernina Express not. If you have a car you can drive the Bernina Pass road from Pontresina and take the small street a few km beyond the town to Morteratsch. Parking costs a little fee.

Cheese making is to see in the morning (quite early, think at 9 or so) and afternoon (4 pm if I recall correctly). You can buy cheese or have a meal with cheese, bread, butter and drinks (water, wine?) there.

I highly recommend to check with the Pontresina tourist office. Have been to that place two years ago - things could have changed.

I.

Ingo--thanks--I found a website for it but it was all in German. We'll give it a look.