Charmey (890 m) – Brecca (1400 m), distance 16 km, walking time → 5h45 ← 5h00

This stage of the trail takes in the scenic Breccaschlund (Brecca gorge), home to an incredible variety of wild flora and fauna and offering magnificent views of the surrounding landscapes, some of which appear in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance (IFP).

• Distance : 16 km

• Walking time : → 5 hrs 45 min; ← 5 hrs 

• Altitudes : lowest point 887 m; highest point 1507 m

• Elevation gain/drop : → + 1218 m, - 704 m; ← + 704 m, - 1218 m
  
  

Level of difficulty : experienced hikers
Material : hiking shoes, picnic, weather-appropriate clothing (mountain weather is highly changeable)
Hiking map : 1:25,000 (edition mpa, TopoRando) : La Gruyère
Hiking map : 1:40'000 (Kümmerly+Frey) : Parc Gruyères Pays-d'Enhaut - Order the card : 20.- (+2.- of shipping costs). 

Accommodation in Charmey

Hôtel Cailler, Gros Plan 28, +41 (0) 26 927 62 62, www.hotel-cailler.ch, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hôtel Restaurant Le Sapin, Rue du Centre 25, +41 (0)26 927 23 23, www.hotel-le-sapin.ch, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
L’Etoile, Rue du Centre 21, +41 (0)26 927 50 50, www.etoile.ch, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
‘Sleep in the straw’, Gebhard and Michèle Schuwey, La Précorne, +41 (026) 927 15 21, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

Accommodation in Brecca

St.Antoni – Brecca, open from early June to late September, Adrian and Sandra Burri, +41 (0)79 313 40 42, 
(off season: +41 (0)26 412 11 43), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Prior booking required.
Les Cerniets: open in July and August only, +41 (0)26 412 12 87, (off season: +41 (0)26 412 14 26). Prior booking required. 
Add another 30 minutes to your walking time.

Public transport

Information and timetables: www.cff.ch, Bulle train station, +41 (0)26 913 05 11
Charmey: TPF (Bus no. 245 from Fribourg and bus no. 260 from Bulle). Stop: Charmey, Village
Brecca: no public transport service, nearest TPF stop: Schwarzsee, Campus, Turn left at La Balisa (point 1411) or Ober Recardets (point 1464), Walking time: 50 minutes.

Itinerary

From Charmey, take the path to Montminard, then continue in the direction of the Tissinèva mountain farm at point 1474. From here, the path leads down to la Gissetta, where it runs along the banks of the Rio de l’Essert, a tributary of the Javro river. At Pré de l’Essert, you will pass a small chapel before heading east towards the Grattavache-Dessus mountain farm. Follow the stream as far as La Balisa mountain farm, then take the path on the right. There is a steep climb before you make your descent to the Ober Recardets mountain farm. From either chalet, you can walk down to Schwarzsee, where you can stay overnight in one of the local hotels or return to your final destination via public transport. If you want to continue on to Brecca, take the path that runs alongside Les Recardets before crossing over at Rippa. Then walk down towards Unteri Rippa, and continue on in the direction of the cabane de Brecca [mountain refuge]. To reach the Les Cerniets mountain refuge, take the path on the right at point 1378 (additional 30-minute walk).

Highlights

Charmey village (Bains de la Gruyère, Musée de Charmey)
Breccaschlund
Mountain farms, including production of Gruyère d'alpage AOP and Vacherin Fribourgeois d'alpage AOP