Forum Index > Trip Reports > Entrancing Switzerland:The walking path from the village of Charmey to Gruyere Castle 6/1/18
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Nancyann
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Joined: 28 Jul 2013
Posts: 2314 | TRs | Pics
Location: Sultan Basin
Nancyann
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PostSun Feb 10, 2019 1:55 pm 
This is the second of four day hikes that my son and I did in Switzerland last spring. Our goal was to get in shape to hike Section 11 of the Alpina Via from Grindelwald to Lauerbratten on the fourth day. I have been saving these trip reports for a rainy day, but a snowy day works just as well. smile.gif To begin this hike, we drove from the ancient town of Avenches, Switzerland (see my TR for the L’Areuse River Gorge) to the little village of Charmey, about 5 miles from Gruyere Castle. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw Charmey was that its name had to be some sort of derivative of the word “charming”. It was located in an area of picturesque verdant green hills and valleys, close by the lovely blue green Lac de Montsalvens. The streets were lined with centuries-old Swiss chalets adorned with colorful flower boxes and little vegetable gardens in every nook and cranny.
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
Charmey, Switzerland 6/1/2018
The plan was to park at the Charmey Train Station, and walk along the path to Gruyere Castle, where we would catch a bus back to our car at the end of the day. It began as a path through a cow pasture, and way off in the distance we could see the castle perched on top of a hill at the base of some mountains.
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
In less than a mile, the trail dropped down to the lovely Lac de Montsalvens and contoured the shoreline to the dam at Gorges de la Jogne, where the river cascaded down into the gorge far below.
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Lac de Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Lac de Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Lac de Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Lac de Montsalvens, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gorges de la Jogne, Switzerland 6/1/19
Gorges de la Jogne, Switzerland 6/1/19
Gorges de la Jogne, Switzerland 6/1/19
Gorges de la Jogne, Switzerland 6/1/19
Gorges de la Jogne, Switzerland 6/1/19
Gorges de la Jogne, Switzerland 6/1/19
Gorges de la Jogne, Switzerland 6/1/19
Gorges de la Jogne, Switzerland 6/1/19
The trail was supposed to parallel the river as it roared through the gorge, but it was closed due to a landslide, so we followed a scenic detour through more cow pastures.
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Broc, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Looking back at the way we came.
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Eventually, we came to a historic and picturesque old covered bridge crossing La Sarine River.
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
La Sarine, Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
The craftsmanship of the bridge was very impressive.
Bridge at La Sarine, Switzerland 6/1/18
Bridge at La Sarine, Switzerland 6/1/18
Bridge at La Sarine, Switzerland 6/1/18
Bridge at La Sarine, Switzerland 6/1/18
Bridge at La Sarine, Switzerland 6/1/18
Bridge at La Sarine, Switzerland 6/1/18
After crossing the bridge, the path meandered through even more verdant pastures as we grew closer to the castle.
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère, Switzerland 6/1/18
The last half mile to the castle was up a very steep cobblestone path, and even though we were immediately inundated with swarms of tourists, we were quite happy to have finally arrived at our destination after a trek that took all day due to the detours!
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
Gruyère Castle, Switzerland 6/1/18
It began to rain, so we ducked into a little bakery to enjoy a sublime walnut torte and coffee, and did I mention freshly made chocolates? Refreshed and energized, we walked back down the hill and caught a bus back to our car at Charmey, delighted to have spent the day immersed in the charm of Switzerland!

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whitebark
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Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Posts: 1864 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
whitebark
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PostMon Feb 11, 2019 11:52 am 
Switzerland sure is pretty! Thanks for posting the photos!

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moonspots
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Joined: 03 Feb 2007
Posts: 2456 | TRs | Pics
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moonspots
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PostFri Feb 22, 2019 7:31 pm 
Nancyann wrote:
...The streets were lined with centuries-old Swiss chalets adorned with colorful flower boxes and little vegetable gardens in every nook and cranny...
I like your photos, I like the countryside images and the little towns and the various stone buildings. And that covered bridge, that's what I would have had to stop and admire as you apparently did. Nice report. 👍

"Out, OUT you demons of Stupidity"! - St Dogbert, patron Saint of Technology
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Alpendave
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Alpendave
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PostMon Feb 25, 2019 5:49 am 
Entrancing indeed.

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