Pringy: Cheese, Chocolate and Hiking Trails

The activities also differ in duration: a chocolate tour takes 30 minutes, while the hike along the Sentier des fromageries to the other cheese dairy takes about two hours. There are also seasonal features and different route options to take into account when planning your visit.

Cheese-Making and Chocolate

The Maison du Gruyère is a demonstration cheese dairy where you can learn about the traditional production of Le Gruyère AOP. Depending on the season, the cheese is made there three to four times a day before visitors’ eyes. Alongside the demonstration is the interactive exhibition “Le Gruyère AOP, voyage au cœur des sens,” which explores the history of this internationally renowned cheese. The Marché gruérien at the Maison du Gruyère showcases products from local cheese-makers. The demonstration, exhibition and market each offer a different focus: production, the history of cheese, and products from local cheese-makers.

For chocolate, the Chocolaterie de Gruyères offers bespoke workshops for small groups of 1 to 12 people at its laboratory in Pringy. A workshop lasts at least one hour. A 30-minute tour of the “bean-to-bar” production process includes a tasting. Reservations are required for both activities. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between a longer workshop and a shorter tour with a tasting included.

Hiking Trails and Route Options

The Sentier des fromageries connects Pringy with Moléson-Village and can be walked in either direction. You can choose between two hiking trails: via Les Reybes or via La Provêta. The other cheese dairy is about a two-hour hike away. Along the way, the trail passes through Gruyère’s green pastures, by herds of cattle and authentic alpine chalets with wooden-shingle roofs.

The “De château en château” hiking trail also passes through Pringy. It is 7 km long, classified as an easy family hike and accessible with a stroller. Unlike the Sentier, with its two route options and roughly two-hour hike to the other cheese dairy, the key points of reference here are the distance, difficulty rating and stroller accessibility. The “Gruyères-Estavannens” section descends from the center of Gruyères towards Pringy.

Winter Activities and Cultural Heritage

When there is enough snow, a special 1 km ski-joring track is prepared in Pringy. Horse-drawn Davos sled rides are also available in a leisurely or sporty version. The winter activities therefore differ both in form and in their conditions: ski-joring requires sufficient snow, while the sled rides are offered in two versions.

The Chapelle Sainte-Agathe de Pringy dates from 1811. It features an abstract stained-glass window by Alfred Manessier, created in 1990. The combination of religious tradition and contemporary abstraction defines the chapel. The window adds a later artistic touch to the older building and complements the themes of cheese and hiking with a cultural perspective.

Discover more destinations: Vuadens, Le Pâquier, Pont-En-Ogoz, Pont-La-Ville Fr, Grandvillard, Morlon, Haut-Intyamon, Jaun

Go to the main travel overview: Gruyères.