Charmey is a resort in the Fribourg Pre-Alps, in the Gruyère valley. Situated in an unspoilt natural setting, it is particularly appreciated by families with children: children can ski for free on the slopes up to the age of 6! Take advantage of your stay to discover the famous Gruyère PDO.

The Charmey ski area lies between 900 and 1,630 m and offers 30 km of downhill slopes (65% blue, 25% red and 10% black). The resort also has a snowpark. Instructors from the Charmey Swiss Ski School offer group lessons in the snow garden (ages 3 to 5) and for young people (ages 6 to 15), as well as private ski, snowboard and telemark lessons for children and adults, and guided ski tours and snowshoe outings. Children are in for a treat in Charmey: not only do under-6s ski free, but the resort also has a snow garden where they can discover the joys of skiing in a safe environment supervised by instructors.

From the top of Vounetz, a 4km long toboggan run with a difference in altitude of 440m will allow you to have a fun time. For ski tourers, the Ganet piste is open every evening from 5pm to 10.30pm, as is the restaurant Les Dents-Vertes which closes at 10pm (it is only accessible on skis or snowshoes, the gondola lift closes at 4.30pm).

Since the 2020/21 season, a new activity has been on offer: snowtubing! It was free in its first year. Rubber rings in two sizes are available for free use on two runs created at the top, near the snow garden.

You’ll also find a 20-km cross-country ski trail connecting Charmey to Jaun. Part of this trail is lit at night, allowing you to ski 5 km after dark. The area also features six marked snowshoe trails: the shortest is 2.1 km and the longest is 6.3 km. Indoors, you’ll find a 25-meter indoor pool and a fitness center at the Charmey Sports Center.

To help you recover from all these sporting feats, the Bains de la Gruyère offers you two large 34° mineral water pools (one indoor and one outdoor) with sauna, hammam, Turkish bath, a light therapy relaxation area, personalised treatments (massages), three saunas and a solarium with a panoramic view of the Gruyère mountains.

Charmey has two hotels (three and four stars), apartments and chalets for rent, guest rooms, group accommodation, and mountain huts and gîtes. Be sure to visit one of the restaurants to discover the delicious specialities of the Gruyère region: the famous Gruyère cheese, of course, but also Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP, chalet soup, sérac, cuchaule, fondue and Bénichon mustard, among others... If you like chocolate, head to the nearby village of Broc to visit the famous Maison Cailler chocolate factory! There is also an alpine cheese dairy in Moléson-sur-Gruyères, where you can see cheese made the traditional way over a wood fire. Finish your visit at La Maison du Gruyère in Pringy, near Gruyères castle, which reveals the secrets of how this famous AOP cheese is made.