Maison Cailler is a chocolate lover's dream come true!! If you are visiting Maison Caillier with children, there’s no need to even read my recommendation: JUST. GO. This is a chocolate experience that your kids will never forget!
Maison Cailler in Broc-Fabrique is the site of the very first industrial chocolate production in the world. I went for the chocolate tour, and in groups of 20, we went through a series of interactive, themed rooms explaining the history of chocolate (beginning with the Aztecs through to the 1800s), the founding of Caillerr, its merger with Nestlé in the 1930s, and its phenomenal growth into a household favourite product.
There’s also another fun sensory area where you can get up close and touch /smell the raw cocoa beans, roasted almonds and hazelnuts used for chocolate production.
My favourite (and most worth-it) part of the tour is hands-down the last segment, where you get UNLIMITED flow of chocolates to gorge on! (But you can’t take them outside of the sampling room). I tried sooo many chocolates to my heart’s content, honestly I didn’t wanted to get out of the room.
If you like a more immersive and interactive experience, you can even sign up for a chocolate making workshop (slots at 12.30pm and 6.30pm) where you can create and bring home your very own chocolate!
TIP: You can buy Cailler chocolates at Maison Cailler’s gift-shop, and that’s a unique and delightful experience on its own. But there is actually a more wallet-friendly option! Just walk 5 minutes out to this small grocery STORE between the factory and the Broc-Fabrique train station. It stocks nearly everything that is available in Maison Cailler, along with other Nestle food items at bargain prices. Otherwise, just head back to the city where you are and buy it at Denner where it is constantly on promotion.
Transport Directions:
From Lausanne/ Gruyères to Bulle:
Take the train from Lausanne (or if you are already in Gruyères) to Bulle. From Gruyères, the train ride is approximately 8 minutes.
From Bulle, transfer to the connecting to Broc-Fabrique. The journey takes around 10 minutes.
Once you arrive at Broc-Fabrique, it’s a short walk (about 5 minutes) to Maison Cailler.
Price:
17 CHF for adults
14 CHF for seniors and students
7 CHF for kids 6-15 years
