The Best of Switzerland: Chocolate & Cheese

This weekend is my last free weekend in Geneva, so I wanted to do something really Swiss. What's more Swiss than chocolate and cheese? So I decided to take a day trip to Gruyeres, home of the Cailler Chocolate Factory and a cheese factory. Gruyeres is so Swiss that what Americans think of Swiss cheese is really called gruyere.

I had a rocky start in the morning: I didn't feel well and my train ticket wasn't working out like I wanted. But all anxiety was forgotten when I caught glimpses of the Swiss countryside. I mean, wow. Rolling hills and mountains and villages and sunflower fields and the lake...amazing. I made two train transfers, and with each transfer the train got smaller and brought me closer to the cows grazing in the countryside.

After about a three hour commute, I arrived at the Cailler Chocolate Factory in a small town named Broc. And when I say small, I mean the chocolate factory is pretty much the only thing there.
I walk inside, and I am greeted by the most amazing chocolate shop. I could hear the hallelujah chorus in my head!

Half of the chocolate shop. Hallelujah! Can't you hear it too?

I got my ticket for the tour, and when it was my turn I entered into what reminded me very much of a Busch Gardens ride. You know, where the voice narrates a story as you walk from room to room. The tour covered the history of chocolate and how the Swiss came to be chocolate connoisseurs. The best part of the tour was that it immediately smelled like chocolate. After the history lesson, I entered into a room explaining the glorious production of chocolate. I could also see into the factory. Next, the most amazing part, the sample room. I got to sample fifteen types of chocolate. Yum!

The founding fathers of Swiss Chocolate

Entrance into the chocolate process

The recipe safe: "those with access to the safe can be counted on the fingers of one hand"

Looking into the factory

The tasting room

After spending half a fortune on chocolate and leaving the factory, I had about a half hour to kill before the train arrived. I hiked up to the top of the hill overlooking Broc.

The cutest train stop I've ever seen

That long white building is the chocolate factory

After another train ride, I went into the city of Gruyeres. It was still pretty small, but was bustling more than Broc. I hiked up to the medieval part of the city where the castle stands towering over the valley. As I walked there, I passed what must have been fifty restaurants that all smelled like fondue.

After making it to the castle, I was tired and sweaty so I decided to cool off while I watched a movie about the history of the castle. Basically, it's been around since the 1200's and has played a relevant part of Swiss history.

I walked around the castle's rooms, gardens, courtyard, but my favorite part was the magnificent views of the mountains and the valley.

The street that smells like fondue

Au revoir, Gruyeres! 

After exploring the castle, I walked past all the tempting fondue and bought gruyere cheese, yogurt, and bread for dinner from a local shop. It was the best convenience store dinner I've ever had!

After two train transfers, I was back in Geneva, still marveling at the beauty of the Swiss countryside.