Eight centuries of history
The castle first appears in the archives in 1244. It follows the layout known as the Savoyard square. For nearly five centuries, the Counts of Gruyère ruled the region from here. In 1554, Count Michel went bankrupt. His main creditors, Bern and Fribourg, seized his estates. From 1555 to 1798, more than fifty bailiffs from Fribourg governed the territory from within these walls. The castle was sold at auction in 1849 to the Bovy family from Geneva, then passed to the Balland family. The Canton of Fribourg became its owner and opened it to the public in 1939.
What you discover inside
The tour leads from the guardroom to the Romantic salons, then on to the Knights' Hall, decorated in the Troubadour style. Along the way you will see medieval stained glass, frescoes from the Ancien Régime and paintings by Corot. In the 19th century, Daniel Bovy welcomed artists to the castle, among them Barthélemy Menn, who left their decorations in several rooms. Local legends accompany the visit, such as that of Chalamala, the counts' jester. A free audio guide with augmented reality can be downloaded to your smartphone in French, German and English.
The garden and the view over the Gruyère region
Around the castle, the French formal garden and the ramparts look out over the rooftops of the medieval town and the Fribourg Pre-Alps. The garden is open from Easter to September. From the walls, it is easy to see why the counts chose this promontory: it commands the whole valley. The castle is the historic heart of the region that gave its name to the famous cheese. Picnics are not allowed within the castle walls.
Visiting tips
According to MySwitzerland, a visit takes between one and two hours. The castle is open every day of the year, with opening hours that vary by season. We recommend checking the official website before you go. For families, a treasure hunt led by a guide in medieval costume is available on booking. Gruyères is best explored on foot: bring comfortable shoes for the cobbled climb up to the castle.
