Things to do in La Gruyere, Canton of Fribourg: The Best Museums

Gruyères Castle has stood proudly atop a verdant hill in the heart of Switzerland since the 13th century. Surrounded by the magnificent panorama of the Alpine foothills, the medieval fortress houses prestigious collections that bear witness to its long and rich history. The treasures to be found within its walls include the capes of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the intricate stained-glass windows dating from the Middle Ages; the frescoes commissioned by the bailiffs under the Ancien Régime; paintings by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot and the troubadour decorations of the Salle des Chevaliers, created at Gruyères in the 19th century by a colony of passionate artists. From its ramparts to its French-style gardens, from the guard room to its romantic salons, Gruyères Castle takes you on an adventure through eight centuries of art, history and legends.

The Musee gruerien of Bulle, Gruyere Region "Stories to share": Ever since 1917, the Musee gruerien has been examining and highlighting the cultural heritage of the Gruyere region. Located close to the historical centre of Bulle, the museum offers since 2012 an interactive permanent exhibition: a circuit entitled "Gruyere - Footprints and Detours". A sign-posted path introduces you to the Gruyere region and its inhabitants. A vibrant, up-to-date overview of the cultural heritage. Dynamic lighting,an atmosphere that appeals to your feelings. Easy access for all ages. Reconstructions of interiors and themed areas tell of the economic, religious and social history of the inhabitants of the region between the 16th and 20th centuries. There are farmers' rooms, mountain cheese dairies, objects bearing witness to popular piety, everyday life and the pastoral cycle. Objects, costumes and documents reveal the richness of a traditional culture based on the farming of mountain pastures and trading of the famous Gruyere AOC cheese. Guided visits of the museum and the townwalk on demand. 150 square metres are given over to alternating presentations of the most beautiful and unique collections from the Museum's archives. A permanent exhibition of daguerrotypes by J.-Ph. Girault de Prangey. 350 square metres are given over to short-term topical and/or artistic exhibitions. A theme-circuit has been specially designed for children. It includes items that can be manipulated and various games that are directly linked to the topics in each section. Children can, for example, play a memory game comparing Bulle in 1912 to the 21st century town, build a woodshingle roof or use a magnetic board to make up their own >.

Be aware that the last entrance to visit the museum is 45 minutes before the closing time - HR GIGER IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SWISS ARTISTS. He was awarded an « Oscar » in 1980 in Hollywood for the movie « Alien ». He was the designer of the Alien beast and different other biomechanical creatures. The artist was born in Coire in 1940. Giger has given to Gruyeres a different dimension, a wonderful attraction: two worlds completely opposed. One traditional and the other one fantastic. The visitor penetrates in the biomechanical, surrealistic and mind-blowing place. The museum is open since 1998. Most of its twenty rooms are reserved for Giger’s work: paintings, sculptures and furnitures. His private collection is shown on the third floor artist such as Coleman, Dado, E. Fuchs, Schwarz, Steve Leuba, etc. A bar completely designed by Giger built on the left hand side of the Museum is the last living master piece of the artist where the atmosphere and the sensation are incomparable.

The goal of our information center about energy is to provide you with a fun and educational experience. Our guides encourage discussion while tailoring their approach depending on your knowledge level and interests. As part of the tour, you will safely enter a hydroelectric power plant in operation and experience a unique demonstration of very high voltage effects (250,000 volts).