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The Chocolate Factory, Switzerland 3

ByThe Skeptical Traveler

The Chocolate Train was on my list and it already had been budgeted for 🙂 (198 CHF – around 208 USD for 2 tickets). The reviews on tripadvisor were very good (out of 27, 16 were excellent) … but I decided to read the not so good reviews and one drew my attention.

Chocolate Train do it yourself

If you don’t want to pay extra for the structured tour, you can just buy train tickets (or use your railpass) on the local trains. They run generally every half hour between all destinations.
Just get on any train from Montreux to Gruyères, you’ll make one easy change on the way. Walk up the hill and visit the town. The cheese factory is across the street from the train station.
Then take any train from Gruyères to Broc-Fabrique (“Factory) with a quick change in Bulle. The factory entrance is located 100 m from the stop and on the way is the Nestlé Factory Store with great discounts on every thing Nestle’s.
Cailler of Switzerland is wonderful, you can smell the chocolate before reaching the front door!
Save some money by skipping the tour and the panoramic train, you’ll ride regular coaches from Montreux that offer just about the same view. And the price is much less.

So I decided to go on my own and it was not only about money but time as well as some other reviews said that lots of time was ‘wasted’.
Tip: buy in Montreux a return ticket to Broc as in the Broc train station the vending machine did not sell tickets to Montreux !? (in fact the ticket is from Les Avants to Broc, as Montreux-Les Avants is covered by the Montreux Riviera Card).
And even if it was more stressful figuring out the trains I did not regret going on my own even if I missed the Gruyères castle (part of the tour) – after a while all castles start to look the same.

The FactoryThe image shows a large, white, multi-story building with a sign on the roof that reads "Cailler." The building has several arched windows and is surrounded by a well-maintained lawn with a few trees. The sky is clear and blue, and there are mountains visible in the background.
A small village with white and red-roofed houses is nestled in a lush green valley. The village is surrounded by expansive green fields and dense forests. In the background, there is a large, forested mountain under a clear blue sky.

The safe with the secret recipes The image shows a display with text and a photograph. The text is in multiple languages, including French, German, and English. The French title reads "LES RECETTES DES CHOCOLATS CAILLER," which translates to "CAILLER CHOCOLATE RECIPES" in English. Below the title, there is a paragraph of text in each language. Above the text, there is a photograph of a room with a cabinet and some doors, all bathed in blue light. The display appears to be part of an exhibit, possibly in a museum or a chocolate factory tour.

What’s this, Coca-Cola?
“This is where all Callier chocolate recipes are deposited. This secret is well kept and those with access to the safe can be counted on the fingers of one hand!”

 

Two people wearing white lab coats and hairnets are observing a machine labeled "SOLIFORMAT SPF" in a factory or laboratory setting. The machine appears to be part of a production line, possibly for food or pharmaceutical products. The environment is clean and industrial, with stainless steel equipment and safety signs visible.

The Robot

And the highlight of the tour, free chocolate in the tasting room. I ate so much I almost got sick, there should be a limit for people like me who cannot control themselves.The image shows an assortment of chocolates arranged in neat rows on a reflective surface. There are different types of chocolates, including dark, milk, and white varieties, each with distinct shapes such as rectangular bars, squares, and rounded pieces. In the background, there is a blue and white sign with the word "Femina" written on it.

And I had to take this photo, in the shop of the factory finally Pepsi – perhaps Nestle (the owner of Callier) has an agreement with Pepsi – everywhere else in Switzerland only Coca-Cola. I like Pepsi better than Coca Cola and I own shares of Pepsico; Warren Buffet has Coca Cola, I have Pepsi :).A glass-front refrigerator is stocked with various beverages. The top shelf contains bottles of yellow and green drinks. The second shelf has a mix of dark-colored bottles and cans. The third shelf, which is circled in red, contains bottles of Pepsi and other similar beverages. The fourth shelf has bottles of water. The bottom shelf is filled with bottles of orange and red drinks.

The workshop, I think people learn here how to make chocolateThe image shows a group of people participating in a cooking class. They are seated around a large, U-shaped kitchen counter with various cooking utensils and ingredients in front of them. Three individuals are standing at the front, demonstrating cooking techniques. The room has a large window with decorative patterns, allowing natural light to illuminate the space. The atmosphere appears to be focused and educational.

Previous posts in the Switzerland series:
Swiss Banks
Rochers-de-Naye, Switzerland 2

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