New Glarus: A Fun Small Town For Exploring Swiss Heritage

Downtown New Glarus Wisconsin

A visit to New Glarus, Wisconsin is one of the most rewarding road trips for small-town charm. Known as America’s Little Switzerland, you’ll feel like you’re in Europe while strolling through its streets exploring locally-owned shops with authentic Swiss flair. Better yet, take a tour of the wildly popular New Glarus Brewing Company headquarters then stock up before you leave town. Mainly, because you can’t buy any of their products outside Wisconsin’s state line.

Take a stroll with us through one of our favorite small towns 25 miles southwest of Madison.

Early History Of New Glarus

In 1845 New Glarus was founded by Swiss immigrants who were mostly weavers. However, they had to adapt to dairy farming and cheese making. They eventually built their town with a half-timbered alpine look to help preserve their heritage. Equally important, they built their homes and shops to resemble their homeland.

Fun fact: One of their cheeses, Limburger, was so popular it became legal tender in 1905.

New Glarus Downtown Shops To Visit

Read about some of our favorite shops before your visit then explore New Glarus at your own pace.

The New Glarus Bakery always becomes our first stop. In reality, if you put it off you might miss out on some seriously special treats. Experience yummy authentic Swiss recipes passed down through generations that will tickle your fancy and flirt with your eyes. Just walking in makes me excited because I want to take the whole shop home.

New Glarus Bakery buys fresh ingredients as locally as possible. Butter from a couple of miles away, flour, and different types of sugar from Minnesota, along with village residents that exchange chives, zucchini, and rhubarb for gift certificates to use at the bakery.

Speaking of rhubarb, click here to read about our love for rhubarb.

New Glarus Bakery Breads

Tip: Get a pretzel because we haven’t tasted one this good since we road tripped through Germany and the Alps.

Take our word for it, don’t skip going to this bakery.

Next, go next door to Ruef’s Meat Market. Ruef’s handcrafts meat the old-fashioned way, just like they used to make in old-world Switzerland. They specialize in sausages, notably many different flavored brats and traditional Swiss recipes. Try beer and onion brats for a local flavor made from New Glarus Brewing Company’s famous Spotted Cow beer.

Also, look at the Swiss cowbells displayed on the wall behind the counter.

Tip: Buy some Landjaegers, a traditional smoked sausage, for a road trip snack.

After you have explored the town, check out Glarner Stube Restaurant and Bar for fondue and other traditional Swiss meals. While inside, look around to spot traditional hand-carved Swiss pieces. Glarner Stube translated means “ The Living Room of New Glarus.”

Tip: Look up to see money stuck to the ceiling.

Take a road trip to find small-town Wisconsin cheese shops with a rich European heritage. We suggest reading 12 Excellent Small Town Cheese Shops That Will Scream Wisconsin.

Final Thoughts

New Glarus is a small town, population 2,000, you need to visit if you want to experience small-town charm. Getting there is a perfect relaxing road trip through Wisconsin’s scenic rolling hills and dairy farms. Take your time to stroll through the streets and visit all of its delightful shops and businesses.

Read more about New Glarus here.

Maybe beer from New Glarus Brewing should be used as a modern-day legal tender. What do you think?

Thanks for reading New Glarus: A Fun Small Town For Exploring Swiss Heritage.

Tom and Kristi

New Glarus Bakery In Downtown