The GoldenPass Line is one of the most beautiful railway panoramic lines in Switzerland. Between Zweisimmen-Montreux passengers enter a divine natural setting that shows up close and personal why tourists flock to Switzerland…
Once we had already embarked on the Glacier Express, the next “train highlight” awaited us: the trip with the GoldenPass Panoramic! Or Classic?
Along with the GoldenPass Panoramic, with its panorama cars flooded with light, the GoldenPass Classic also travels along the Montreux-Zweisimmen line, with cars in the elegant style of the Belle Époque – also not bad!
The GoldenPass Cheese Car
During the wintertime passengers can also enjoy the “Cheese Car” – a train reserved for gourmands seeking authentic and original dishes. On this line passengers learn the old Swiss tradition of cheese-making by making a stop in Château d’Oex and visiting a dairy.
We made a stop in the restaurant “Le Chalet” in Château d’Oex where they produce their own “Le Chalet organic” cheese, and on a log fire – just like it was originally made in a real Alpine hut!
While we sat at the table eating fine fondue we also experienced first-hand how the cheese makers turn 160-200 litres of organic milk into a 16 to 20 kg loaf of cheese. The Le Chalet organic cheese ripens for some 5 to 6 months in the cellar after being produced before it can be eaten.
Naturally at Le Chalet guests are served by local women in traditional garb. The restaurant has a rustic design and lying on the tables are place mats in the paper cutting style of Beatrice Straubhaar.
Looking out the window you will spot the Swiss flag flapping in the wind; it doesn’t get any more Swiss than this!
The restaurant also manages its own in-house shop with regional products from the Pays d’Enhaut; cheese made from cow, goat or sheep’s milk, meat specialties, honey or syrup.
One thing you should not miss out on under any circumstances is the model train on the 2nd floor! The panorama of the GoldenPass Line was beautifully replicated and the trains run past each other like in real life. I felt like a dyed-in-the-wool railway worker!
Ah… and during the summer, in place of the Cheese Car there is the Chocolate Car:
Additional information on the GoldenPass can be found on its website.
In conclusion we took a look at the Museum “Vieux Pays-d’Enhaut”, which is also its own leg of the “Cheese Car Tour”.
The private museum was founded in 1922 and over the years it has become one of the most popular museums of its kind. Here visitors are immersed in Swiss culture throughout various rooms and they learn how people once lived here as well as a few things about the Swiss art of paper cutting popular around the world. In addition, we recently reported on the paper cutting work of Beatrice Straubhaar, whose works of art can also be admired on the place mats at Le Chalet!
A merci beaucoup to…
Pays d’Enhaut for the invitation and Julie Ferreux, Marketing manager, for accompanying us and for the interesting tour through Château-d’Oex.
Many thanks as well to Niklaus Mani from GoldenPass for the interesting presentations during the ride to Montreux, and Ursula Krebs from Gretz Communications for organising this trip!
Morsels on the trip from Château-d’Oex to Montreux ;-)
2 Comments
There are always nice tipps in your blog. We have already visited some of the places you have shown and seen Swiss has lots to offer!
Yes, Switzerland is an amazing place, indeed!