Alpine Cheese, Cogwheel Trains & Cowbells in Switzerland
A serene lake, stunning Alpine peak, and beautifully-peaceful animals make a trip to Switzerland feel like a painting come to life. Oh, and yes, there will be cheese.
There are only a few places on this Earth where you can experience panoramic views, adorable dairy cows, and authentic, homemade, Alpine cheese. And the top of Mt. Rigi, just east of Lucerne, Switzerland, is a spot where you can find it all—a must-add to your Swiss bucket list is Alpwirtschaft Chäserenholz (try saying that five times fast, or at all).
Your journey begins with a ferry ride on Lake Lucerne departing from Lucerne City. Enjoy the boat ride from Lucerne to Vitznau, a picturesque village nestled at the base of Mt. Rigi and the edge of Lake Lucerne. Make sure to head up to the top deck to get the full yacht-life experience. Arrive in Vitznau and soak in the views from the base of the mountain, then gear up for a ride up the mountain via cogwheel train. Make sure to charge your camera the night before, because you will be making use of it on your way up the mountain. As you ascend, you’ll spot Lake Lucerne shimmering from below, and the alpine peaks beginning to frame the horizon. Once you arrive at Rigi Kulm, take a big sip of the crisp alpine air as your breath is about to be taken away. Once you begin your walk away from the train station, you will soon be awestruck with the 360-degree views from the summit of Mt. Rigi. Being above the clouds is a feeling like no other; time slows down up here.
Once you’ve had your fill of the views from the summit, lace up your boots for a moderately easy 20-minute walk through flower-dotted meadows and whispering pine forests to the Alpine cheese hub. Pro tip: wear hiking appropriate shoes for this excursion! The path leads downhill toward Alp Chäserenholz, a traditional alpine hut that doubles as a rustic inn and a working cheese farm. Cowbells echo in the distance as you pass the very animals responsible for what might be the best cheese you’ll ever taste. This short trail is more than a hike, it's a sensory bridge to Swiss Alpine life. And just when the scent of mountain herbs and wildflowers begins to mix with something rich and savory, you’ll spot the hut tucked into the hillside.
Alp Chäserenholz is what dreams of Switzerland taste like. Run by alpine farmer and cheesemaker, Franz-Toni Kennel, this charming hut offers local specialties in a setting that feels as warm as the fondue pot. Franz is a 7th generation alpine farmer and has owned the cheese farm for decades. All of the cows that live on the farm are the suppliers of the milk to make the authentic cheese, which is created right inside of the cheese factory. Did you know that cheese can truly only be categorized as “Alpine Cheese” if the cows graze in the Alpine pastures?
Take a tour of the factory and see the room in that back which stores all of the cheese for aging. Then grab a wooden table inside the cozy dining room or outside on the terrace and indulge in an array of Alpine cheese. You aren’t experiencing just a tasting, it’s a cultural experience wrapped in the flavors of the Alps.
Start with the scenic ferry ride then onto the thrill of the cogwheel train, hike through idyllic scenery, meet cows with panoramic views, and taste Alpine cheese so fresh it practically hums with flavor. Mt. Rigi and Alp Chäserenholz deliver not just on scenery, but on soul.
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