Travel to Romantic Gruyères in Switzerland
See the Historic Swiss City Famous for its Cheese, Castle & HR Giger
Oct 10, 2008
The small town Gruyères with its lovely castle is in the La Gruyère district of the Canton Fribourg (Freiburg) in French-speaking Switzerland. Gruyère cheese is of course world famous while the historic small town with authentic medieval castle is also very popular with tourists. Finding science-fiction art, as well as the HR Giger Museum, in this historic setting is perhaps more of a surprise to the huge number of tourists moving daily through the old town.
The Historic Old Town of Gruyères, Switzerland
Gruyères’ small old town is located on a hill and with the medieval castle form a beautiful panorama when approaching from below. The town developed next to the more famous castle, which is at the far end from the town gates open to visitors.
The old town of Gruyères has basically just one huge street, which resembles a large oblong market square. This open space is lined with pretty buildings, many with preserved historic facades as well as traditional shop signs.
- Note all the crane symbols – the town name is derived from “grue”, the French for crane, the heraldic symbol of the House of Gruyères.
Although Gruyères maintained much of its historic character, it is very obvious from the number of postcard stands, souvenir shops, and open-air cafés that this town lived purely from mass tourism. Restaurants are plentiful but service and quality are not exceptional. Fondue made with local Gruyère cheese is particularly popular on colder days.
- The old town is completely car free – parking is available outside the town gates and at the bottom of the hill.
Visit Gruyères Castle in Switzerland
The Château de Gruyères is one of the best-known and most romantic castles in Switzerland. It is located on a hill at the far-end of the historical old town of Gruyères from where it offers marvelous views of the valleys, lake, and the Alps.
Gruyères Castle dates partly back to the thirteenth century and absolutely looks the part with towers, spiral staircases, wood-floor galleries, courtyards, and ramparts that may be explored at will. It is a great place to visit with small children.
A surprise in the castle is the way modern is sometimes mixed with the historic. The visitor’s center is a contemporary, straight-lined glass and concrete construction. A few rooms in the castle also display very modern and science fiction fantasy art – many featuring the historic castle or old town of Gruyères.
- The Castle of Gruyères is open year round and may be seen without a guided tour.
See Science Fiction Art in the HR Giger Museum in Gruyères, Switzerland
A real surprise in the historic old town of Gruyères is the prevalence of science fiction art. In the Château St. Germain, at the town gate at the exit to Gruyères Castle, is the HR Giger Museum with several large pieces of art visible from the outside and in the slightly bizarrely-furnished Giger Bar opposite the museum entrance.
- The Swiss science fiction artist HR Giger is most famous for winning the 1980 Oscar for Best Visual Effects for his involvement in creating the aliens in the film "Alien".
The HR Giger Museum has the largest permanent collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture, and film designs by H.R. Giger in addition to regularly changing temporary exhibitions. The museum is a true delight to science fiction fans but may be nightmare inducing to others.
- Gruyères is hugely popular with tourists making visiting off season or early in the morning highly advisable, especially to see Gruyères Castle in relative peace. Many travelers arrive by tour bus but transportation for individuals is simple too.
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