Gruyeres Castle
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#1things to do in GruyèresTravelers' Choice
- Visit: 1–2 hours
- from CHF 12
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Gruyères Castle is a 13th-century museum on a glacial ridge above the Sarine valley, at the entrance to the Intyamon valley in Gruyères, Fribourg.
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What's on here
Why go
- Three capes of the Order of the Golden Fleece, captured at the 1476 Battle of Morat.
- International Fantastic Art, including works by José Roosevelt and Gian Paolo Dulbecco.
- Views over the surrounding hills and the Sarine valley.
Opening hours
Today09:00 – 18:00Show all
Monday09:00 – 18:00
Tuesday09:00 – 18:00
Wednesday09:00 – 18:00
Thursday09:00 – 18:00
Friday09:00 – 18:00
Saturday09:00 – 18:00
Sunday09:00 – 18:00
Don't miss
- The hunting roomIts trophies recall hunting, an activity favoured by the counts of Gruyère and the Fribourg bailiffs.Hunting room
- Corot salon paintingsPaintings by Camille Corot, Barthélemy Menn and Henri Baron.Corot salon
- The esplanade wellFribourg bailiffs installed this circular well in the 18th century.Centre of the esplanade18th century
Interesting facts1
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The castle is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Gruyères Castle - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
The castle has housed a Fantastic Art collection since 1989.
- 1270–1282The castle was built.
- 15th centuryCount Louis de Gruyère transformed the fortress into a lordly residence.
- 1554Indebted Count Michel ceded his lands to Fribourg and Berne, ending the Gruyère dynasty.
- 1555–1848The castle served as the seat of Fribourg bailiffs and later prefects, until the regional administration moved to Bulle.
- 1849The Bovy family bought and restored the castle, which later passed by marriage to the Balland family and served as a summer residence. The two families established an artists’ colony here.
Show all
- 1855–1861Camille Corot and other artists painted one of the castle’s halls.
- 1938–1939Fribourg canton repurchased the castle in 1938 and established a museum; public access followed in this period.
- 1989The castle began housing a collection of Fantastic Art.
- 1993A foundation took responsibility for the castle’s conservation and presentation of its collections.
Legends and hidden details
- A mural under the arcades, painted around 1900 by Francis Furet, depicts the legend of Belle Luce.
What's inside
- Rooms with 19th-century furnishings
- A black velvet Golden Fleece vestment bearing Philip the Good’s emblem
Tips for your visit
- The castle visit includes rooms and a garden, alongside temporary exhibitions.
Photo spots
- Castle hillThe hill rises 115 metres above the surrounding plain, a height that gave the castle strategic importance.Castle grounds On the map
How to get there
- On footFollow the road uphill through the village to Rue du Château 8.
Sources: Gruyères Castle - Wikipedia · Gruyères - Wikivoyage (see) · Experience the Legend - Château de Gruyères · Château de Gruyères - Entrez dans la légende · Erleben Sie die Legende - Château de Gruyères · Schloss Greyerz - Wikipedia · Château de Gruyères - Wikipedia · Castello di Gruyères - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026
Where
Rue du Château 8, Gruyères, 1663
- Website
- chateau-gruyeres.ch/
- Phone
- +41 26 921 21 02
Eat and drink nearby
Where to stay nearby
Questions and answers
What museum is beside Gruyères Castle?
The Alain Bordier Tibet Museum stands beside the castle.
When did Camille Corot stay at Gruyères Castle?
Corot stayed at the castle in 1852, 1857 and 1859.
Which other artists were associated with Gruyères Castle?
The Bovy family hosted Gustave Courbet, and Auguste Baud-Bovy made many works in the surrounding area.
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