Maison Cailler in Broc presents the history and making of Swiss chocolate at the factory of the country’s oldest chocolate brand still in operation. You follow an interactive tour, watch the chocolatiers at work and finish with a tasting.
Chocolates
Main highlights
- An interactive tour tracing the history of Swiss chocolate since the company’s founding in 1819
- Chocolatiers at work to watch behind large windows, from moulds to finishing touches
- An all-you-can-eat tasting of Cailler pralines, bars and specialities at the end of the visit
Overview
Founded in 1819 by François-Louis Cailler, Cailler is the oldest Swiss chocolate maker still in operation. Its factory has been based in Broc since 1898 and produces all Cailler chocolates using milk from the Gruyère region.
Maison Cailler offers a permanent tour devoted to the history of chocolate, from Aztec ceremonies to today’s production techniques. Audiovisual displays tell how François-Louis Cailler brought the first recipe back to Switzerland, and the scent of chocolate accompanies you throughout the visit.
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What to see and do
The tour is divided into four sections. The first two use audiovisual displays and reconstructions to follow cocoa from the plantations to Switzerland and the stages of processing the bean. An audio guide provides information at the interactive points. You can touch roasted beans and smell the aromas that make up chocolate.
The last two sections show production : behind glass windows, chocolatiers prepare the moulds, coat the pralines and add the finishing touches, with explanatory panels along the way. The visit ends with an unlimited tasting of milk, dark and white chocolates and pralines.
By reservation, small-group chocolate workshops led by a master chocolatier let you make your own chocolates, from age 6. An old railway wagon, once used to transport chocolate, houses an escape game, and there is a playground outside.
Practical information
Getting there : Broc-Fabrique station (Fribourg–Bulle line), then a 5-minute walk. Free parking 5 minutes from the museum.
Visit duration : about 1 hour 30 minutes including the tasting. Tours start roughly every 10 minutes.
Suitable for : families and children of all ages, workshops from age 6.
On site : shop, playground, audio guides in eight languages.
Visiting tips
Book your time slot online, especially at weekends and in high season, and arrive a few minutes early. Allow time for the shop, which sells the chocolates you tasted, special editions and gift boxes.
This place is part of the selection Top 10 indoor activities for children in French-speaking Switzerland.
Nearby
- Gruyères Castle has overlooked the medieval town since the 13th century, with its towers and historic rooms.
- La Maison du Gruyère lets you watch Gruyère cheese being made live.
- Bains de la Gruyère is a thermal spa fed by natural mineral water, at an altitude of 900 m.
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