We’re all different and, while the English roll their Wensleydales down their hill. the Swiss big cheeses party until the cows come home.
Who knows why the English do what they do, and 35 years living with one in The Scary One, I’m no nearer getting to the nub of that.
But perhaps if you’ve got mountains of cheese at your disposal.
You won’t have to throw yourself down the Copper’s Hill for a wheel.
In the Swiss canton of Vaud that would just cheese them off as they prefer to take life at a slower pace.
Nestled in the picturesque Vallée de Joux, the annual Vacherin Mont-d’Or Festival brings together thousands of visitors each September.
Quel fromage
Held in the Swiss village of Les Charbonnières for more than 25 years,.
The festival is a long-preserved tradition which marks the return of cows from their Alpine pastures.
And the official start of the Vacherin Mont-d’Or season.
Produced exclusively in the Vallée de Joux between September and April, Vacherin Mont-d’Or received AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) status in 2003.
Recognising its protected regional origin and traditional production methods.
Into the Vallee
The rich, soft cheese, known for its distinctive flavour and creamy texture, remains highly seasonal.
With cheese lovers returning year after year to enjoy the first batches of the season.
Today, more than 6,000 visitors attend the gourmet festival annually.
Enjoying local food markets, traditional entertainment and tastings of the season’s first Vacherin Mont-d’Or.
Set against the forests and rolling landscapes of the Vallée de Joux, the event, takes place on 26 September.
And offers travellers an authentic glimpse into the relaxed charm and culinary heritage of the Swiss Canton of Vaud.
So maybe join in as the Swiss big cheeses party until the cows come home.
With flights to Geneva and an hour and a half on those clockwork Swiss trains.