Cheese fondue in Gruyeres

Gruyeres - or Greyerz - is a little town in the Swiss canton of Fribourg. The famous Gruyeres cheese - or Greyerzer - with its special flavour is right from there. From Spiez it is a little bit more than an hour ride.

As usually we doubted the GPS when it took us there, the trick is to pass the proper exit on the motorway and then go back on the country road, because otherwise you don´t have a chance to take a photo from the small town as a whole.

The parking area is down the hill, because Gruyeres is kept in medieval style and no cars are allowed up there, which is a blessing actually. After you have done your walking up one of the two roads that lead up to the town center you have a lovely view around. 

This is the main road of Gruyeres and basically it is all there is. You find little souvenir shops and restaurants there and it leads up to the castle (where we have never been inside because dogs are not allowed. Okay, so sod it. Who does not like my dogs does not get me neither.)

One of the most prominent places for eating Cheese fondue is the "Le Chalet". If you are non-suisse like moi you might be surprised to learn that Cheese fondue in Switzerland is THE classical fondue - whilst "my" classical fondue, fondue with meat, here is called Fondue Chinoise. To get around in Switzerland this is one of the basic things to know otherwise it will be an endless reason for confusion when you go and eat out (which - I am certain - you will not do very often because everything is bloody expensive here except if you are Swiss, Saudi or Japanese) or lunch with a friend or invite people over for dinner.

Anyway, Cheese Fondue made from  Greyerzer is the top speciality here in Gruyeres, so if you got a chance stop at the Le Chalet and go for one. Surprisingly so the prices are quite reasonable and the size of your meal will be decent (which unfortunately this is something you do not get everywhere in Switzerland). And the Le Chalet is dog-friendly! Another big plus from my side.

We had booked a table in advance, at lunch time the place is packed. We got a nice table at the 1st floor at the window with enough room for the kiddos to relax, and we had a good glimpse of the place itself. It is decorated in Swiss style and we heard many people go "aaaaah" when they came in for the first time.

The fondue comes in a bowl (the caquelon it is called I think) and with potatoes, bread and pickles on the side. The smell is wonderful, so if you like cheese you should definately give it a try. I am not so fond of cheese fondue actually, I had tried ready-made ones before because in Switzerland there simply is no way around and I never really liked it. But this one was absolutely great!

After lunch we continued uphill a bit more and passed the Giger-Museum, which is the only one in the world (I wonder why). Maybe it is something you want to uncheck when you are in the area, nothing for me though. I like "Alien" the movie and of course the strange creature that frightens the heck out of Ripley, but honestly: Gigers other creations are simply too... hmmm..... lets say overwhelming for me.

One last Family photo taken by a Frenchman who had waited patiently until I had asked him en Francais to take a photo from us (you think that saying "Please", making clicking noises with your tongue and shoving a camera right into a person´s face should be enough, but no), then we went home to Spiez again. It was a perfect little run.