Switzerland is home to some of the best cheeses in the world. If you are visiting Switzerland during your vacation, there are so many places that you can explore and check out their best cheeses, and taking a cheese factory tour is one of your best options.
Premium chocolates and cheese are some of the top-notch products that are manufactured in the country.
You can pass through the scenic journeys as you head to the cheese manufacturing factories. Getting to know how Switzerland operates and its products are one way to have fun during your trip.
It is imperative to note that you can go on this trip from May through October, and it is a perfect way to spend your vacation. The first-class travel will give you memorable experiences that you will never forget Switzerland for after returning to your country. There are so many things that you can enjoy during your iconic ride across the country.
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What to do during the cheese factory tour
One of the most critical aspects that you need to understand during your trip is that you can explore the surrounding environment and get to know the cheese manufacturing process. The guided tour will take you through all the steps, from raw milk to fully matured cheese.
You can also embark on some cheese tasting during your time. This is a memorable experience as you get to interact with some of the best quality cheeses in the country.
Most of the cheese factories in the country are located on ancient lands, and they have maintained their tradition of cheese making.
Therefore, even with the modernization processes, you are sure that you will be sampling the most authentic Swiss cheese during the visit.
Preservation of ancient cheese-making methods is critical in developing high-quality cheese because manufacturers strive to maintain premium cheese.
There is a visitor’s manual, and you can get to know the process firsthand by going through the manual. It is an essential part of the manufacturing process because it ensures that you get only quality.
Best cheese factory tour in Switzerland
Why you should go on a cheese factory tour
When visiting Switzerland during your vacation, you must take your time to explore the natural environment and the surrounding.
You will see the cows roaming in the alpine pastures, and it is one of the most mesmerizing things you will ever know because they usually have bells on their necks to allow the herdsman to know their location at any point in time.
The tradition of moving the cattle up the alpine ranges for pastures during the summer has gained traction over the years.
It attracts onlookers who want to see how the cows graze in the lush green fields and explore all the cows graze in the dense green past the available green land.
There is a parade in the cantons of Fribourg, Valais, and Appenzell where the people even contest during this period to celebrate the change of season.
A summer visit to the famous alpine world is not complete if you have not experienced all the fun activities in the region.
You will see the cows firsthand, and you can taste the milk as well because they are flavorful, and you will understand why people love visiting this region.
La Maison du Gruyère
The La Maison du Gruyere is one of the top cheese factories you should visit during your trip to Switzerland.
It is one of the factories that lies in the milk and chocolate-producing areas. The team in the factory will take you through the exhibition process, and you will get to explore some of the best facilities in the country.
Here in the factory, you have access to different cheeses, and you can touch, taste, and smell the cheese.
There are various categories of cheese produced, and you will understand how the company has maintained the traditional cheese-making process and mixed it with modernized techniques.
The workers in the company understand the process very well, and they have carried on the tradition for years now.
Visit La Maison du Gruyere.
Engelberg cheese factory
The cheese production process in Engelberg is artisanal, and it is manufactured in a monastery.
You can visit the monastery and get to know the processes that the locals usually use to manufacture cheese products.
There is a restaurant within the area, and you can take a break and sample the cheese after the tour.
The tour is one of the best because you will understand more about the local Swiss people and their culture of cheese making.
You can board a train for this tour or take a bus from Lucerne.
Visit Engelberg.
Morteratsch cheese factory
When visiting Switzerland on your vacation, there are different aspects that you should investigate, and one of them is seeing the cheese factory in the Engadin region.
The cheese from this factory is one of a kind, and you are sure that you will have the time of your life during your visit to the region.
Looking to explore beautiful places in Switzerland while educating yourself about diverse Swiss culture? Check out the list of the best guided tours in Switzerland here.
The artisans have perfected their art, and you will not only get the best, but also you can sample their brunch or afternoon snack.
The production process in this factory usually occurs during the alpine season, which runs from June through October.
Visit Pontresina in Engadin.
Emmental cheese factory
One of the most popular cheeses in the country is Emmental cheese, which originates from neighboring Liechtenstein.
It is a cheese manufactured through different processes and ingredients added to give it a strong taste, unlike other cheeses in Switzerland.
When tasting Emmental, you are sure that you will feel the uniqueness of the cheese and the variations that are available in the country.
Other versions may be more vital for you if you do not like strong cheese.
The mild versions are better off if you want something to sample.
The experience that you will get from the tour is noncomparable to any other because you will see all the processes during the manufacturing of cheese and the techniques that the employees utilize in the factory to produce top-notch cheese.
Visit Emmental Dairy factory.
Airolo cheese factory
When you visit the best cheese-producing areas in the country, you will see the process firsthand and know the features that the people in the region go through to give you some of the best cheeses in the world.
The best time you can visit this cheese factory is in the morning, and this is when raw milk is delivered, and you can watch the entire process from raw milk to the final product of high-quality cheese.
The steps taken will be readily understood when you can see the cheeses in different stages of production.
The team in the factory is welcoming, and you have the best chance of exploring some of the top-notch cheeses in the country.
It is important to note that the farmers in the region that produce these cheeses usually take their cows to graze in the alpine pastures during the summer period.
The cheese made by the milk from cows enjoying the summer pastures is exceptional. You should sample the cheese during your visit. The cheese is popularly known as the alpine cheese.
Visit Airolo cheese factory.
Go on a fondue hike.
One of the best ways to enjoy your trip to the alpine world is by taking a hike to the mountainous region. When you choose to do so, you have a high chance of interacting with people from all kinds of places.
It is a perfect opportunity for you to see the grazing of the cattle firsthand and sample the cheese from the locals and the factories around the region.
Of course, a cheese tour is not complete without tasting some of the best fondues produced in Switzerland.
When you visit the area, you get to understand why the Swiss love fondue so much.
In addition, there are farms in the region that will allow you to be a farmer for a day. During this process, you enjoy the cheese produced in the area and interact with the cattle making the milk.
Marbach factory
This factory is located in the Entlebucher region, and it is one of the most picturesque locations in Switzerland.
Visiting this location is the best thing that you can do during your vacation in Switzerland.
The factory has been in operation since the 80s. It continues to produce some of the high-quality cheese that you can get in the market.
You can sample some of the best cheeses in the area and understand their process during the manufacturing process. T
he tour is worthwhile as you will get a deeper understanding of how these companies have been operating over time and how their processes have changed for the better.
Visit Marbach factory.
Appenzeller cheese factory
This is one of the iconic cheese products that are manufactured in Switzerland, and a strong smell characterizes it.
There are so many places in easter Switzerland that produces this kind of cheese.
You should try it out if you are looking for something unique and only made ins Switzerland.
The cheese manufactured in these locations is often geographically protected; hence, you will get the best cheese you will ever find in the country.
During your trip, you will get to know the steps that are taken during the manufacturing process.
If you follow them, you will get to understand why this type of cheese is synonymous with the locations in Switzerland.
The Appenzeller cheese (which is one of the most iconic Swiss vegetarian dishes) usually includes spices and herbs that are so strong, giving it a unique taste.
The tour bus will take you from one factory to another, and you will get a glimpse of the best cheese manufacturing processes in the country.
Visit Appenzeller cheese factory.
La Maison de la Tête de Moine
This is one of the cheeses that are characterized by quite a unique name, and literally, the word means the head of a monk.
The naming originated in the area because the monks used to make this type of cheese.
Their technique was carried forward by the locals, and it has since remained a top seller in the region.
It is imperative to note that this type of cheese is also firm and salty. If you are not into these features, you should try a tiny bit.
The museum around the area will give you an idea of how the locals used to make cheese and the processes that are involved during this manufacture.
You are sure that you will learn much about the culture of the local people and engage yourself in the making of one of the best artisanal cheeses in the country.
Visit La Maison de la Tete de Moine.
National Dairy Museum
This is not a factory, but as a traveler, you will get to know so much about the cheese industry in Switzerland.
When you have insights into the trade in the country, you will have the best tour because you are equipped with adequate knowledge to take you from one place to another.
Some of the articles and journals found in the museums date back to the 1810s.
They show you how the process goes and the deep insights on why you should sample and participate in the cheese-making process. Although it is a small museum, there is so much history that you can learn from this museum.
You will appreciate the steps that the cheese artisans have undergone in the country to produce the best cheese in the world.
Visit National Dairy Museum.
