Gruyères is located in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, and is famous for its cheese which has been produced there for over 800 years.
Montreux, Switzerland
From Lausanne we traveled thru Montreux to the Château de Chillon. Located in Montreux is a statue of Freddy Mercury, who had a significant and special connection to Montreux, Switzerland. From 1978 to 1991, Queen—Freddie Mercury’s band—regularly recorded in Montreux at the famous Mountain Studios located in the Montreux Casino. The peaceful and scenic setting by Lake Geneva offered Mercury and the band a retreat away from the pressures of the media and fans, providing an ideal environment for artistic inspiration. They recorded six studio albums during that period.
Freddie began splitting his time between London and Montreux in the late 1980s and eventually acquired a flat there as his health declined due to AIDS.
To honor his legacy, a bronze statue of Freddie stands on the Montreux lakeside promenade, commemorating his strong ties to the town. Since 2001, Montreux has hosted the annual Freddie Celebration Days around his birthday, attracting fans worldwide to celebrate his life and music.
Château de Chillon, Switzerland
Located on a small island in Lake Geneva between Montreux and Villeneuve, Chillon Castle is a medieval fortress famous for its scenic and strategic location.
Lord Byron visited the castle in 1816 and was inspired by the story of François Bonivard, a prisoner held there in the 16th century, to write his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon.” Byron famously carved his name on a pillar in the dungeon, which remains a notable historical feature today.
Chillon Castle is well known as Switzerland’s most visited historic monument and has a rich history dating back to the 12th century, having been under the control of the House of Savoy, then Bernese authorities, and now the canton of Vaud.
The castle has served various roles, including as a military fortification, prison and residence.
It is a popular tourist destination with approximately 50 rooms open to visitors, including the dungeons that inspired Lord Byron’s poetry.
Gruyères
We walked the small town of Gruyères to the main church, the Church of Saint-Théodule, which was established in 1254 by Count Rodolfo III as the parish church for the village and surrounding areas. While the original Gothic building was destroyed by fire in 1679 and again in 1856, it was rebuilt and the current church was consecrated in 1860. This church acts as a key religious and historic landmark in the village and offers a picturesque setting. From there was a beautiful view of the monastery in Gruyères.
Gruyère cheese is a hard Swiss cheese with a rich, creamy and slightly nutty flavor. It is made from raw cow’s milk and is highly regarded in Switzerland and worldwide for its quality and unique taste. The cheese matures over months, developing a complex flavor that is both sweet and slightly salty, often used in dishes like fondue, French onion soup, and croque-monsieur. The production of Gruyère cheese follows traditional methods and is protected under the Swiss appellation system to guarantee its authenticity.
We had lunch to sample some of cheese dishes. Raclette is a traditional Swiss dish in which a large slice of cheese—usually Raclette cheese—is heated, under a broiler or a special raclette grill, until the surface is melted and bubbly. The melted cheese is then scraped off onto bread, potatoes and believe it or not, pickles. It was absolutely delicious.
This was a very picturesque and charming area of Switzerland.
H.R. Giger Museum, Gruyères
Along the way there was a museum dedicated to the artwork of H.R. Giger, a Swiss artist famous for designing the titular alien creature and other biomechanical creatures for the “Alien” film series. The museum is housed in Château St. Germain, a historic castle in the medieval town of Gruyères, which Giger purchased in 1997 and transformed into a permanent home for his art. It opened to the public in 1998. Michael couldn’t help himself from being silly.
