Château de Gruyères

An interesting medieval castle that, I believe, is well worth visiting if you find yourself in Gruyères. Getting there is easy. If you arrive by train, simply walk towards the castle from Gruyères station -) You can see it clearly from there. The walk takes about 20 minutes. The oldest structures on the castle grounds date back to the 13th century, while the castle acquired its current appearance in the 15th century. Like most medieval castles, it changed hands several times (including periods when it became city property), and in 1938 the city finally purchased it outright and turned it into a museum. The castle is fascinating both inside and out. For example, there is an airfield right next to it and it is interesting to watch the planes there (at least on weekends, when there are quite a few - see video). Additionally, the castle is adjoined by a garden - a proper, classical, geometrically laid‑out one -) It is pleasant to walk through and equally pleasant to view from the castle windows. From an interior perspective, Gruyères Castle also has plenty to offer. There are medieval artifacts on display, such as horse blankets and flags captured during a 15th‑century battle. They showcase stunning quality and the finest craftsmanship (see photo). Of course, the castle also exhibits knights' armor and weapons - all in excellent condition, and all fascinating to see. There is a giftshop at the museum where you can buy "something knightly" (like wooden swords for children or knight figurines) or Gruyères souvenirs. A very beautiful place that is a pleasure to visit - a chance to learn something new about a distant era and to touch the history of long‑gone days.

Château de Gruyères is a truly magical destination that takes you on a journey through time. As you walk through the castle, you can admire its impressive architecture and beautifully preserved rooms, each telling a story of the past. The handcrafted furniture and detailed interiors reflect the elegance and artistry of another era. It’s easy to imagine the lives once lived here, filled with history, culture, and charm. A visit to Château de Gruyères is a memorable experience for anyone who appreciates history, art, and breathtaking scenery.

Fantastic Medieval Castle For me this is one of the most fabulous castles in Switzerland with Chateau de Chillon or Vaduz (actually in Liechstenstein). The reason I really like it is the fact it is so well preserved you almost feel like you could be in the 13th century. The wood is still there which is quite unique. The whole feel is very grand. Bonus is that once you are here you can eat a great fondue in one of the local restaurants. Super worth it and recommended.

We stopped on a foggy Saturday in Jan in Gruyeres. Early around 9:30 the place was still very empty and parking right in the top available. It was a misty day, but we liked it, the village and the castle. Love the old buildings and how they are preserved.

The best castle in Switzerland to visit. We enjoyed the medieval village, the surrounding landscape, and the castle interior, which is very insightful and truly gives a medieval atmosphere. Moreover, you can buy some of the best cheese in the world right in the village. Highly recommended

Château de Gruyères in Switzerland is a gem worth exploring. The stone walls and wooden beams give it a real character, and wandering through the rooms feels like stepping back in time. The views from the ramparts are impressive, offering a great snapshot of the surrounding countryside. The on-site museum shares interesting history without getting too heavy, so you can soak it all in without feeling rushed. It can get busy during peak hours, so try to visit early to enjoy a quieter experience. While it’s popular with tourists, the castle still keeps an authentic charm that’s hard to beat. Definitely take your time here—there’s plenty to discover beyond the usual postcard shots.

A beautiful Chateau with some wonderful history and lovely historical rooms on show. Of particular note are the stunning painted panels!

Enjoyed the visit to the castle very much, I happened to visit during medieval festival which was wonderful. Spent a couple of hours there. Lovely gardens as well. A great day's outing. I recommend going early morning to avoid crowds.

Just a short walk up hill from the train station you will find a little city with shops, restaurants. Then just a bit up the hill you will find this beautiful castle with amazing views.. 13CHF to get in but it's worth it. Keep in mind to wear comfortable shoes if you're not used to walking up hill in cobble stone.

This Château was a highlight of our trip! Excellently preserved, it offers a self-guided tour which we thoroughly enjoyed; it allowed each of us to wander and explore the areas that most interested us. Walking through the quaint, medieval town to get here was an added bonus. If you're anywhere near the area I highly recommend making the time to see this castle!

Amazing place to visit if you're in the area. Modestly priced and good exercise walking the hills and stairs. We're loved sending the old castle, decor, and history. The views are simply incredible. There's plenty of shipping, dining, and accommodations just down the hill from the castle. It's worth making a second trip.

Ok, we didn't go inside the castle (was closed at that time due to some sneaky virus that took over the world). But we were surprised to learn that most of the grounds in and around the castle were open and free to roam around. You can walk around the gardens, get up to the walls, walk around the castle itself (except for a small section). The castle itself is well preserved and well taken care of. The views are amazing with the mountains and countryside in the back. And the track around the castle is a nice little stroll. Lots of photo ops, some benches to take a break underneath a tree. It's a fantastic castle in a charming old town. Either you go inside or not, this is a place not to be missed.

This castle's at a fairly high point in the town of Gruyères. It's a bit of a hike up from the main bus stop but totally worth it. You'll also pass through a medieval town where they're serving delicious traditional Swiss food like fondue. The castle is quite spacious, each of its rooms and sections with their own stories. You'll learn how the original inhabitants lived and how the castle was repurposed over the years. There are many paintings as well as rooms designed and arranged how they might have looked during medieval times. Oh, and since you made the climb up, expect to be rewarded with majestic views of the surrounding Swiss countryside as well as the melodic chiming of countless cowbells in the area as the cows graze like they've done for many centuries, making the milk that goes into Gruyère cheese.

For a village this small, the chateau (castle) is a pretty well-organized museum. The tour begins with a 20 minute multi-media presentation on the history of Gruyere. You can tell they've really put in an effort with the sound effects and projections, but it was a little too long for my short attention span. The first couple of rooms are comprised of art exhibits that change every month. The one I went to was a photography exhibit, and the photographer was on hand to explain how the pictures were taken (and to scold me for trying to touch the photos, before I realized they were his). The rest of the rooms are pretty much what you would expect from a castle, with different rooms for different purposes. I liked that the rooms were numbered, and more or less organized in a linear fashion so that you could follow the rooms without getting lost or having to weave through a maze of corridors. Not being much of a history buff, my favorite part of the chateau was actually the cool gift shop. They had a bunch of stuff that I was tempted to buy, including large figurines of knights and dragons, and child-safe swords and shields. Considering that it's a museum gift shop, and one that's in Switzerland no less, the gift items were rather reasonably-priced. One of our travel mates purchased an awesome knight about a foot tall for only CHF38! The entrance fee is CHF9.50 for adults, but you can pair with the Maison de Gruyere entrance fee for CHF14.50, the Giger Museum entrance fee for CHF17, or the Tibet Museum for CHF15.

Perhaps we were blessed with an exceptionally clear day when we visited here, but the aerial view of the town of Gruyères from this castle is absolutely picturesque. Surrounded by lush green pre-Alpine foothills and vast, pristine farmlands, it's no surprise centuries of Swiss counts resided here, with the panoramic visual of a rural paradise at their disposal daily. The quaint, car-free, medieval town leading you to Gruyères Castle appears stuck in time. The short stretch of cobblestone street is adorned with bright red flowers and banners bearing the town's matching coat of arms, a marching "grue" (French for crane - and yes, the name of the town comes from a bird and not the cheese with which it's grown synonymous). The castle itself, an important historical site for Swiss heritage, perhaps lacks the grandeur of other European castles, but is no less charming. Self-navigation is rather effortless. The space is well-curated, tidy, and not known to be overrun by tons of visitors. In designated rooms are art collections, both permanent and temporary exhibits, including one housed in a spiral-staircase keep (but watch out for the swarm of flies that have made their home at the top). Some sections showcase other museum-esque attractions, like three huge capes used in royal ceremonies, while others employ some flashier French Victorian motifs, like a celery green music room, and then there's the larger-than-life fireplace that has it's own side-door into the kitchen. A minor bummer, the French garden was closed at the time of my visit, but you could still get an overhead view from one of the bedroom balconies. In its current form, each room in Gruyères Castle is a bit different from the next, some more interesting than others, of course. But the whole site can be taken in at such a relaxing, leisurely pace that it seems to possess a purity that is lost on more bustling, more famous castles. And again, with that stunning pastoral view of the Switzerland countryside, it's a must-capture for photographers of any skill level.

No cars allowed in this quaint medieval town. And there's cheese everywhere you look around! But do not fret- transport's easy with train or bus, and a free parking lot downhill will save you some fuss! Have a fondue, or maybe raclette- and hotel prices: some of the best I've seen yet! The castle's a good size- free with a Swiss pass. The gardens are idyllic, with perfect green grass! They don't speak much German, so practice your French, (and I hope you don't mind the cheese-everywhere-stench). Celebrated erste August here with alphorns and fireworks too, then climbed the ramparts to scout out a better view. One of my fave spots so far in the Schweiz, only 2ish hours from Zurich for an experience SO NICE!

My second favorite castle currently in Switzerland is the Gruyeres castle. When you get off the train you walk up the hill into the medieval old town of Gruyere. If it was a clear down, the train ride probably was enough to make your visit worthwhile. The train ride provides amazing views of the Switzerland countryside and beautiful mountains. You will probably stop at the cheese factory which is across the street from the train station first. Don't spend much time there, it is not worth wasting your precious time in the cheese factory, you definitely want all your time to be spent exploring the old town, and the castle. Once you reach the top of the hill, you will enter the walls surrounding the old town, and into the cobblestone streets of old town Gruyere. You feel like you immediately have been transported to another time and place. It is definitely a touristic place, with the many shops and cafes lining the streets, but it doesn't distract from the great medieval ambiance of the place. You will want to head towards your left up through old town to the castle. Inside the castle, you have the freedom to walk and around and explore the many rooms. The walk along the fortified wall out over the garden is great. The views are also fantastic on a clear day of the surrounding mountains. The garden is best during the spring when the flowers are blooming, in the winter it is just brown and dead.

Me likes. Don't miss the m night shaymalan movie screening upstairs. The way is a bit steep and no cars are allowed. But still everyone is nice and knowledgeable.

The castle is really amazing! No cars allowed. Amazing views of the country side. And the meringues and cream are ridiculously good! The cobbles stone streets are really beautiful. There is just an old medieval feeling here- it's very cool. Worth an afternoon!