Tucked in rural Wisconsin about 25 miles southwest of Madison is a small town best known for it’s beer. New Glarus does churn out some of the best and most sought-after “only in Wisconsin” beer, but there’s so much more to see and do. Billed as a “Little Switzerland,” New Glarus comes by its moniker honestly.
With just more than 2,100 residents, New Glarus has all the appeal of a small town getaway but pairs it with amazing food, history and charm.
Most people visit for the New Glarus Brewery, but the town has so much more to offer.
New Glarus was first settled by Swiss immigrants looking to improve their lot in life.
By the 1940s, the people of New Glarus were still speaking German, but much of their heritage had been lost. A visit to the Chalet of the Golden Fleece will show how Edwin Barlow brought the Wilhelm Tell pageant to New Glarus and Barlow’s pride in Swiss heritage, his inspiration and initiatives promoting Swiss culture, and the development of New Glarus as "America's Little Switzerland."
One group working to keep traditions alive is the Jodlerklub of New Glarus.
