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Season: all year
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Max. altitude: 810 m (2657 ft)What is La Maison du Gruyère? 
La Maison du Gruyère is a cheese factory and show dairy in Switzerland, right next to the railway station of the medieval town Gruyères. This is located in the canton of Fribourg.
The museum is open year-round. You can learn about cheese-making in an interactive exhibition, watch the process and taste products. A shop and restaurant are available too.
➤ Cheese factory prices, tickets and reservations
What does a ticket for the cheese factory cost?
An entrance ticket to La Maison Gruyère costs CHF 8 per adult if you don't have a rail pass.
Discount options
- With a Swiss Travel Pass or a Swiss Travel Pass Flex, a visit to the cheese museum is free.
- There are special rates for students, families, and groups.
- Tickets for a combined visit to the cheese factory and the castle of Gruyères are available.
Where to buy your tickets
If you need tickets, you can buy them in the museum. Booking a tour that includes the cheese factory is another option. Many tours include transportation, plus visits to Maison Cailler and the town of Gruyères.
Reservations for La Maison du Gruyère
Booking is only required for groups of 10 or more. This has to be done at least 48 hours in advance.
➤ Free museum entrance with your rail pass
The travel passes below grant free entry to the cheese factory.
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Free:
|
How to reach the museum: directions and map
The easiest way to reach the cheese factory is by train, as La Maison du Gruyère is located right next to the railway station of Gruyères. You can't miss it.
There are trains from 3 main directions:
- From Montbovon in the south. Montbovon is located on the GoldenPass route. It can be reached from the directions of Montreux and Zweisimmen/Thun/Interlaken. You can travel to Montbovon on regular trains or on GoldenPass trains.
- From Lausanne/Bulle in the south.
- From Bern and Fribourg in the north.
Learn how to plan your trip in the timetable here.
The Chocolate Train day trip from Montreux
The Chocolate Train is a day trip from Montreux by train and bus, including visits to the cheese and chocolate factories and to the town of Gruyères.
Traveling to the cheese factory by car
The cheese factory can be reached by car too. A paid parking lot is available.
Opening dates and timetable info
When is the cheese factory open?
The museum area of La Maison du Gruyère can be visited all days of the year. Details:
- Opening hours for the museum are from 09:00 to 18:30 (from June to September) or to 17:00 or 18:00 (from October to May). Closure may be earlier on holidays like December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1.
- You can enter until 30 minutes before closure time.
- The store and restaurant are usually open from 07:30. Closure is between 18:30 and 19:00.
How to plan your journey with the Swiss timetable
If you plan your journey with the Swiss timetable, you can enter "Pringy-Gruyères, La Maison du Gruyère, Place de la Gare" as your destination.
Alternatively, just put in "Gruyères". That's the name of the railway station located directly opposite the cheese factory.
Best time to visit the cheese factory
The cheese factory is open year-round. All seasons and all types of weather are good for a visit:
- On clear-weather days you can do a short tour in La Maison du Gruyère and enjoy the rest of your day in the outdoors, in or near Gruyères.
- On rainy days, this is a perfect indoor activity, especially if you take your time and have a bite in the restaurant.
Weather info and forecasts for Gruyères
You don't need good weather for a tour in the cheese factory. If you plan to combine your visit with sightseeing in Gruyères or hiking, dry weather is of course preferable.
What to expect from a visit to the cheese factory
Interactive exhibition
You can start your visit with a 30- to 45-minute tour through the interactive exhibition. You’ll be given a headset with audio information, available in many languages. This allows you to learn about the region, the cow herds and their farmers, and the cheese-making process.
The cheese factory and cellar
From the gallery, you’ll be able to look down into the actual factory. This is where cheese makers are turning fresh regional milk into tens of “Le Gruyère AOP” cheese wheels each day. At the end of the tour, you can also take a peek into the huge cellar, where the cheese is stored.
Restaurant and shop
The restaurant serves lots of regional and Swiss dishes. Of course, many of those feature ‘Le Gruyère AOP’. You can choose from fondues, quiches, rösti, risotto, and many more meals.
You can also buy cheese, fondues, cream, butter, sweets, and other local and Swiss products from the shop. Many cheese products in the shop are vacuum sealed, meaning you can safely store them outside of a refrigerator for a while. Other long-lasting products are sold as well.
How to combine the cheese factory with other excursions
The medieval town Gruyères can be reached in a 15-minute hike from the cheese factory. You can visit the castle there, or enjoy more Swiss delicacies in tea rooms and confectioneries. The chocolate factory Maison Cailler in nearby Broc is another option.
You can use GoldenPass trains when heading for the cheese factory. Or consider the Chocolate Train day trip from Montreux.
If you’re interested in the region’s historical connection to dairy, you can walk (part of) the dairy and cheese hiking route.
The cheese made at La Maison du Gruyère
“Le Gruyère AOP” cheese
La Maison de Gruyère means “The home of Gruyère”. Cheese that’s called “Le Gruyère AOP” is made here. It’s named after the district La Gruyère in the canton of Fribourg. The medieval town here is called Gruyères, spelled with an “-s”.
History of the Gruyère cheese
The production of cheese in this region can be traced back to the 12th century. Local inhabitants already turned their herds’ milk into cheese, which was sold even in France and Italy. Knowledge and techniques improved over the centuries.
The Gruyère cheese was granted the AOP label in 2011. This stands for “Protected Designation of Origin” and ensures the protection of goods and their origin. Ever since it’s called “Le Gruyère AOP”.
➤ Recommended tours that include the cheese factory
Promotions
- www.lamaisondugruyere.ch: cheese and dairy hiking path Gruyères to Moléson
- www.fribourgregion.ch: parking in Gruyères
Dates and times
- www.lamaisondugruyere.ch: dairy and museum opening dates and opening hours
Prices
- www.lamaisondugruyere.ch: La Maison du Gruyère ticket prices
Free with the Swiss Travel Pass in the Bernese Oberland
Swiss Coupon Pass
Maison Cailler
Chocolate Train
Gruyères
