It all began with a pickle obsession.
When my son was seven, he developed what can only be described as a passionate, borderline scientific fascination with pickles. He ate them. He made them. He found recipes that somehow managed to squeeze pickles into nearly everything. Dinner conversations were peppered with every.thing.pickles.
Naturally, we leaned in. We watched viral TikToks of marinated cucumbers and “chickles” (that’s cheesy pickles—think molten cheese (like religieuse) crisped on a skillet with a pickle tucked inside like some kind of glorious Frankenstein of fondue). We made pickle “crackers” to replace bread in sandwiches. It was equal parts hilarious and delicious.
Then one day, in the midst of his vinegar-fueled fervor, we discovered something surprising: Hugo Reitzel, Switzerland’s very own pickle brand, has a factory right here in Aigle. A local pickle paradise practically in our backyard. And they open their doors for tours.
So, we went.
And honestly? It was amazing.
Every Wednesday and Friday from March to November, the Hugo Reitzel factory opens its doors for guided tours that take you behind the scenes of one of Switzerland’s most iconic condiments. Founded in 1909 by Hugo Reitzel himself, the Aigle-based company has been perfecting the art of pickling for over a century—still proudly local, still family-run, and still committed to Swiss ingredients and sustainable farming partnerships.
The tour unfolds in four stages:
- Vinegar Factory: learn how HUGO crafts its own vinegars—the foundation for every great pickle, sauce, and mustard.
- Canning Factory: watch how vegetables are jarred and pasteurised with Swiss precision. (If you visit in June or July, you might even see freshly harvested Swiss cucumbers arriving on site!)
- Sauce Workshop: step into the world of ketchups, mustards, and salad dressings, all bottled on-site (this part was mesmerising).
- Tasting: the grand finale: sampling Reitzel’s classics right inside the HUGO Shop. So good.
When we visited, the machines were humming, jars were spinning down conveyor belts, and the air was filled with the tang of vinegar and mustard seeds. We didn’t catch pickle season itself, but watching the sauces come to life was hypnotic. And then came the tasting: an enthusiastic thumbs-up from my little pickle connoisseur, followed closely by a raid of the gift shop (because who can resist pickle-themed underwear?).
Whether you have a budding fermentation fanatic at home or you just love discovering how local favorites are made, the Hugo Reitzel factory tour in Aigle is well worth the trip. It’s family-friendly, unexpectedly fascinating, and you’ll never look at a humble gherkin the same way again.
Don't have time to visit the factory in Aigle but want to try their products? Take a look at their online shop -- you can even personalise jars for a perfectly unique gift.
