Cheesemaking

In the country of Gruyère and AOC Vacherin Mont d’Or, the fire crackles under a big cauldron. With well-known circular movements, the cheesemaker divides the milk mass into wheat grain-sized particles. He then sinks a linen cloth into the cauldron and hauls up enough particles to make a thirty-kilo round of cheese.

So starts the famous AOC Gruyère making, craftsman made according to the tradition of the 17th century. To discover cheesemaking in a mountain chalet, followed by breakfast, is part of the highlights while visiting Vallée de Joux in the summer season. Our region has got around fifteen mountain chalets where more than 200 tons of Gruyère and other local specialties are made and sold during the summer.

In the beginning of autumn, when the herds leave the mountain and return to the valley, the cheese factories in Le Brassus, Le Solliat, Le Lieu, Le Séchey and Les Charbonnières start selling the first AOC Vacherin Mont d’Or of the season. This soft cheese is prepared during the whole winter and delights many enthusiasts when it over again fills up several maturing caves around Vallée de Joux.

Information

Cheese factories in Vallée de Joux:
Le Brassus: +41 21 845 55 62
Le Solliat: +41 21 845 60 65
Le Lieu: +41 21 841 11 40
Le Séchey: +41 21 841 11 62
Les Charbonnières: +41 21 841 10 14

Cheesemaking mountain chalets open from June until September, from 07:30 to 11:00:
Les Grands Plats de Bise, Le Brassus +41 21 845 85 85
Les Grands Plats du Vent, Le Brassus +41 21 845 40 05
Praz-Rodet, Le Brassus +41 21 845 45 94
La Moisette, Le Brassus +41 21 845 59 04
Le Cerney, Le Brassus +41 21 845 67 57
La Bursine, Le Brassus +41 21 845 64 19
La Brutignière, Le Brassus +41 21 845 58 64
Les Esserts, Les Charbonnières +41 79 607 51 28
Les Amburnex, Le Brassus +41 21 845 61 95
Le Pré de Bière, Le Brassus +41 21 845 50 65
La Duchatte, Les Bioux +41 21 845 54 48
Le Bucley, Les Bioux +41 21 841 19 87
Le Chalottet, Les Charbonnières +41 79 471 17 48
Combe Noire, Le Lieu +41 21 845 48 91
La Meylan de Dessus, Le Brassus +41 21 845 40 14