Gruyères

Today I went to Gruyères, a tiny medieval village on a hill known for it's cheese. You may have heard of it? It's called Le Gruyère and it's a little slice of heaven. I took the train into Palézieux and from there there's this tiny, two-car train that takes you to Gruyères, stopping at multiple one-rail stations on the way. The hour ride was breathtaking; it was a beautiful day out and everyone had their windows down and their cameras out to catch shots of lazy cows grazing in the rolling yellow and green hills.

When I arrived in Gruyères I went first to the cheese factory just behind the train station. It was a really neat museum (with complementary audio guide and fresh cheese) surrounding the production room; I learned a lot about cows, milk and cheese! Unfortunately, again, not much to see in terms of actual cheese-making, but still super cool. After, I started heading up the cow-lined path to the top of hill where the town of Gruyères rests. It's THE cutest, smallest, walled-in, hilltop medieval town I've EVER seen!! There's basically just one big car-free piazza lined with shops and restaurants, bustling with people, and heavy with the delicious scent of Gruyères cheese. Ohhhhhhhh, just thinking about it.

Anyway, I strolled the piazza, popping in and out of expensive tourist shops, walked along the medieval wall, and finally up to the chateau. The castle, now a museum, sits at the highest point on the hill and therefore yields the most fantastic view. After the museum I walked back down to the center where there were a group of teenagers dressed in traditional costume singing. (Even the waitresses were in traditional dress). I thought they were cool until I saw further away, ALPINE HORNS!! That's right, a group of men (in traditional dress) playing Alpine horns with another man throwing baton-twirling the Swiss flag!! I've been wanting to see this for soooo long...OH it gets better. After they finish I hear bells behind me. I turn around and there's this man ringing different bells to play 'Edelweiss'. Gorgeous. Afterward, he puts the bells aside and picks up and accordion (and you know how I feel about the accordion)! He starts playing, beautifully, and the woman next to him stands up and begins to YODEL!!!!! ALL MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE!! Oh, how I LOVE yodeling. It was AMAZING!!!!!! (Check out the link in the upper right hand corner.)

All in all, of the 15 or so villages, towns, and cities I've been to so far in Switzerland, Gruyères DEFINITELY tops the list. Without a doubt.