Alpine authenticity
In spite of its wealth of tourist facilities, the Destination Gstaad has retained its Alpine authenticity. There are 340 farms, 80 working Alpine pastures and just under 11'000 cows. Alpine traditions are lived and breathed and local produce as well as craftsmanship are very popular. Cattle breeding, milk and meat production are the three mainstays of Alpine farming. Local farmers appreciate people taking an interest in their work, which is essential in ensuring that nature remains intact.
Rustic alpine huts
These traditional mountain restaurants offer a special type of hospitality. They radiate a charm all of their own with their unique Alpine location and often home-made delicacies. The many choices available range from simple offerings such as bread and cheese to gourmet steak and chips.
Accommodation
No matter whether you stay on a farm or in the Alps - the authenticity of the destination of Gstaad will transform your holiday into an unforgettable experience. It is proud of its tradition and lives and breathes it every day. Gstaad has 200 farms, 80 of which still use Alpine pastures and around 7000 cows in the region.
Cheese Grotto
A monument to cheese! Molkerei Gstaad have taken over 3,000 cheeses – including historical rarities – and beautifully displayed them in impressive ways. Learn all sorts of interesting facts about the Bernese Hobelkäse AOP and its origins in this former water reservoir 25 metres underground.
Cheese ageing facility
A place where the gold of the Gstaad Alps is kept and treasured. Local expert Alpine farmers take you on guided tours with tasting or a relaxed aperitif. Knowledgeable local Alpine farmers offer guided tours with tasting of exquisite Bernese Alpine cheese and Hobelkäse, or a relaxed aperitif in a homely atmosphere.
Stable Tours
Enjoy the fragrance of country air in the barn, watch the farmer milking a cow or caressing a calf. Such activities are included as part of the Swiss Farmers Welcome You "Visit a Barn" campaign. The Open Barn Doors programme contributes to the promotion of local products. And it also builds bridges between town and countryside. The "Visit a Barn" campaign is about raising awareness of Swiss foodstuffs and their production.
Fondueland Gstaad
Enjoying a delicious fondue with friends or family in the middle of the nature? This is made possible thanks the “Fondueland Gstaad”. It is the perfect mix between a gentle topography and varied speciality cheeses for sophisticated bons vivants. Two huts and three inordinately large fondue pots provide enough space for up to 8 people and they are situated at unparalleled backdrop with a stunning panoramic view.
Show dairy - cheesemaking over an open fire
At Le Chalet in Château-d`Oex, the hard "le Chalet Bio" cheese is prepared over a wood fire. Wearing traditional costume, a cheesemaker produces a whole 16-20 kg cheese from 160 to 200 litres of organic milk.
Alpine Cheese Dairy Tours
Älplerzmorge, cheese production, whey baths or mountain food – the diversity of culinary experiences to be had on the mountains in the Destination Gstaad is huge. An overview - by no means exhaustive!
| Alp | Amenity | Directions | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alp Vorder Eggli, Saanen | Tour of cheese dairy* Middle of June to end of August | By car from Saanen/Rübeldorf to Chalberhöni and dirt road to the Alp. Hiking trails also lead there. Location | Bruno und Mirjam Signer-Wehren+41 79 625 09 66+41 79 380 73 05 |
| Alp Bodme, Gstaad | Tour of cheese dairy* | Take the Wispile gondola to the middle station, then 10 minutes on foot. Or head for Berghaus Wispile and then follow the Cheese Trail to the Alp, around 1 hour on foot, Location | Dominik Matti+41 79 406 97 39 |
| Alp Hintere Wispile, Gstaad | Tour of cheese dairy* | Take the Wispile gondola to the Wispile top station, then approx. 45 minutes by foot Location | Helmut Matti+41 78 843 73 82 |
| Alp Turnels, Turbach | Tour of cheese dairy** alpine restaurant, whey bath, sleep on the hay, sale of mountain cheese and dried meat | Starting at the Wasserngrat railway valley station, after 100 m turn right into a small road. This road leads through the valley up to the Alp. After walking for an hour and a half you will reach the Alp at 1900 m above sea level between Wasserngrat and Giferspitz. Location | Jos Zumstein+41 79 308 08 07 |
| Alp Beust, Saanen | Tour of cheese dairy*, direct sale of alpine cheese, possibility to sleep | By car from Saanen/Rübeldorf ito Chalberhöni, then continue on hiking trails and mountain baths into the Chalberhöni valley; turn right towards the Alp at the Restaurant Waldmatte, Location | Willi Bach+41 79 330 86 28www.willibach.ch |
| Alp Walig, Feutersoey | Tour of cheese dairy* only on request, middle of June to end of August, direct sale of alpine cheese, cow leasing | www.baergheimet.ch, Location | Familie Perreten+41 79 341 86 33www.baergheimet.ch |
| Site Alp, Zweisimmen | Tour of cheese dairy*, Alpine restaurant, Group events | By car or post bus from Zweisimmen to Sparenmoosstrasse approx. 7 km, turning to the Alp is signposted on the right, then continue along a new road for 500 metres, Location | Nadja & Simon Santschi+41 33 722 18 77www.santschis.ch |
| Alp Wildeggli, Zweisimmen | Tour of cheese dairy*, direct sale of cheese | By car as far as Saanenmöser, then continue along mountain paths to the Alp. Location | Nicole & Remy Herrmann-Trachsel Ruth & Viktor Trachsel+41 79 441 27 83+41 79 534 63 08 |
| Alp Stierentungel | Tour of cheese dairy*, Alpine restaurant, direct sale of cheese | From the Lauenensee parking you reach the alp Stierentungel direction Tungelpass-Lenk in about 1.5 hour on foot. Location | Familie Ursula & Ruedi Trachsel+41 79 441 66 17 |
| Alp Parwengen | Tour of cheese dairy* in the mornings only on request. | The hiking trail Horneggli-Hornberg-Rinderberg leads you to the alp Parwengen. Location | Ueli Lörtscher+41 79 194 02 97 |
The tours are only offered in the summer.
* Cheese production daily from 9.00 to 11.00 am.
** Cheese production daily from 10.30 to 12.00 am.
Language Lesson Vocabulix
To learn the most important regional terms already before the arrival, Vocabulix and Gstaad Saanenland Tourism invented a language lesson with typical topics of the destination Gstaad. The lesson is available in English, German, Spanish, French and Italian.
