Charmey–Gruyères 

Suggestions

Itinerary

ROAD CONDITIONS

Road conditions may vary at any time. Please consult SwitzerlandMobility before setting off on your hike. Check the Hiking in Switzerland box to see which paths are passable and which.

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Points of interest

Charmey
Charmey
Nesting in the center of the Jogne valley, Charmey is a subalpine village at about 900 meters elevation. Its population (more than 1800 people) is growing: its location is prized for its high quality of life. Living traditions, beautifully preserved natural landscapes, and sports and cultural activities are abundant. The local economy is tied to agriculture and tourism. On mountaintop pastures and alpine farms, artisan cheese-makers produce Gruyère AOP and Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP during the summer months. The cheeses are then transported to the new Tzintre cheese cellars where they are aged. The village is home to several remarkable buildings, which bore witness to the golden age of alpine economy (16th to 18th century.).
1637 Charmey
Gruyères
Gruyères
The history of the town of Gruyères is intimately tied to that of the family of counts of the same name. Mentioned for the first time in the 12th century, they distinguish themselves by their title (very few held this title amongst the counts of Savoie) and by their chronic money troubles which brought bankruptcy in 1555. Paradoxically, the poverty of this area is what preserved it through the centuries. The different landlords did not have disposal income to modernize their buildings. The first homes were built inside the castle walls, and the village then spread along one main street.
1663 Gruyères
Le Pont-qui-branle
Le Pont-qui-branle
S’il ne branle plus aujourd’hui, c’est que sa structure en bois a été renforcée par une ossature en métal en 1982.
1636 Broc
Jogne Gorge
Jogne Gorge
The Jogne Gorge is a deep gash in the Earth sculpted by underground stream systems. The gorge links the Jogne Valley, at 800 m altitude, to the Sarine Valley, about 100 meters below. About 2 km long, the gorge is very narrow, with steep vertical sides, at times towering over 100m high. A variety of rock formations dating to the Jurassic period are particularly visible. Jogne Limestone, rather resistant to erosion, forms the narrowest passage of the gorge, where tunnels and bridges have been built to allow hikers to navigate the gorge on foot. Today, the flow and dynamic of the Jogne River have been altered by the presence of Montsalvens Dam. High water periods are artificial and depend on the workings of hydroelectric installations. A portion of the stocked water in the retention lake is diverted into the conduit turbines of Broc-Fabrique to produce electricity. The water then returns to the river downstream of the gorge.
Gorges de la Jogne
1653 Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Relais info Charmey
Relais info Charmey
This information point in the laiterie fromagerie de Charmey visitor centre is given over entirely to the SUMMER-GRAZING SEASON The destinations featured here will allow you to explore, at your own pace, the different facets of this age-old alpine farming tradition, as well as the Park’s landscapes and villages. Along the way, you will also discover the region’s fascinating history, rich heritage and many other traditions that are still going strong today. Located on the premises of the Park’s partners, information points are the ideal place for visitors to familiarise themselves with the Park and everything it has to offer. These points feature interpretive panels as well as wealth of brochures, guides and leaflets in French, German and English.
Village d'Enhaut 18
1637 Charmey
Montsalvens Dam
Montsalvens Dam
This dam, located along the Jogne river, is responsible for Montsalvens lake. Built between 1918 and 1921 by engineer Heinrich Eduard Gruner, it was the first arch dam in Europe with both horizontal et vertical curves. 52m high and 110m long, its construction required 26’000 m3 of concrete.
1636 Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Also worth discovering... 
The suspension bridge at the mouth of the Javro and Lake Montsalvens
Montsalvens
Broc, Notre-Dame des Marches chapel
Gruyères Castle
House of Gruyère

Safety

PREPARE YOUR HIKE

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Being well-prepared is the first essential step to a successful tour. Have you thought of everything? Here are a few things to help you get ready.

RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR

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This tour takes place in a pre-Alpine environment with an exceptional natural heritage, a rich landscape and a predominantly alpine economy, all of which demand exemplary behaviour.