Welcome to the canton of Lucerne
Lucerne was one of the first cantons we explored when we launched L’Atelier du Fromage two years ago. Travel with us as we continue our adventures through Central Switzerland.
Our Discoveries in Lucerne
Overview of the Canton
Capital: Lucerne
Land Area: 1 493,51 km2
Population: 413 120 (December 2019)
Admission to the Swiss Confederation: 1332
Language: Swiss German

The oldest European cheese

Sbrinz has a long history that claims to be Europe’s oldest cheese dating back to 1200 or earlier. This cheese is produced exclusively in central Switzerland by 26 valley and alpine cheese dairies near Mount Pilatus. The milk must originate from the region and it must be produced only by Swiss Brown Cows. After production, the cheese must be stored and matured in the area of origin in order to obtain the label AOP (Appellation d’origine protégée).
Sbrinz is an extra-hard cheese that requires a minimum of 16 months of maturing before it can be sold as Sbrinz. However, cheeses with a more pronounced taste are aged between 24 and 30 months. The cheese can be broken into chunks, thinly sliced into curls, or grated as a finishing touch on pasta, risotto, or au gratin dishes, etc.