Things to Do in Gruyères, Switzerland: Walking Guide

The things to do in Gruyères range from exploring a medieval castle and historic church to discovering museums devoted to surrealist art and Tibetan Buddhist art. Set in the canton of Fribourg, this compact destination combines heritage, local culture and the atmosphere of a traditional Swiss town. Neywo has a free audio guide for Gruyères with 6 narrated places, available in 11 languages.

What to see in Gruyères

Castle of the Counts of Gruyères

The Castle of the Counts of Gruyères, known in French as the Château de Gruyères, is one of Switzerland’s most famous castles and a Swiss heritage site of national significance. Set among its outbuildings, it has been open to the public since 1939.

Inside, visitors can explore historic rooms and a garden. Temporary exhibitions complement the permanent historical interiors, giving the castle’s visit an additional artistic and cultural dimension.

Saint-Germain Castle and the H. R. Giger Museum

Below the Castle of Gruyères stands Saint-Germain Castle, also known as Château Saint-Germain. The medieval building is recognized as a Swiss heritage site of national significance and is associated with the gate and fortified house of the Saint-Germain family.

In 1998, Swiss artist H. R. Giger acquired the castle and created the H. R. Giger Museum there. Its permanent collection presents his fantasy artworks, offering a striking contrast with the medieval setting. The castle also contains the Giger Bar.

Tibet Museum

The same cluster of museums includes the Tibet Museum, also known as the Tibet Museum Foundation Alain Bordier. Its collection focuses on Tibetan Buddhist art, creating a very different experience from the surrealist world of the H. R. Giger Museum.

Together, these two museums make Saint-Germain Castle one of the most distinctive places to visit in Gruyères: the building connects the town with both medieval history and unusual modern artistic collections.

La Maison du Gruyère

La Maison du Gruyère is a museum dedicated to the local place and its regional identity. It is one of the main points of interest for visitors wanting to connect their visit to Gruyères with the area’s famous cheese-making tradition.

Former Chartreuse de la Part-Dieu

The former Chartreuse de la Part-Dieu is a historic church building complex within the present-day commune of Gruyères, near Bulle in the Gruyère district of the canton of Fribourg.

Known in French as La chartreuse de la Part-Dieu, the former Swiss Carthusian monastery includes a gatehouse, a chapel, the former friars’ house and the ruins of a mill. Its surviving buildings and remains form an important historical ensemble.

La Chevrière

La Chevrière is a statue in Gruyères and a small point of interest to notice while exploring the town. It is also one of the narrated stops on Neywo’s walking tour, making it part of the town’s story as you move between its larger landmarks.

St Theodulus’ Church of Gruyères

St Theodulus’ Church is a church building in the canton of Fribourg. Its presence adds a quieter architectural stop to a visit focused on castles and museums, and it is included among the places narrated by Neywo.

Explore Gruyères with a self-guided walking tour

A Gruyères self-guided walking tour is a simple way to connect the town’s main sights without joining a group. Neywo’s walking tour, “Counts, Castles and a Surrealist Lair,” covers 0.57 km, takes around 31 minutes and includes 4 narrated stops: La Chevrière, the H. R. Giger Museum, the Castle of the Counts of Gruyères and St Theodulus’ Church of Gruyères.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Download Neywo to explore Gruyères with its free audio guide and discover the town through a short, independent walk.