Reblochon and Crafts Festival

Reblochon: A Cheese Born of 13th Century Fraud

Reblochon is inseparable from the Thônes valley and the Aravis massif. Its history dates back to the 13th century, when Alpine farmers, subject to a tax calculated on the volume of milk collected, practiced a second clandestine milking – the 'rebloche' in Savoyard dialect – after the inspector's visit. This second milking's milk, richer and creamier, produced a smooth and flavorful cheese that would become one of the jewels of Savoyard gastronomy.

Obtaining AOC status in 1958 and then AOP status in 1996, reblochon is now produced exclusively in Haute-Savoie and in a few communes in the Val d'Arly in Savoie, using raw milk from Abondance, Tarine, and Montbéliarde cows. Thônes, which proudly calls itself the 'reblochon capital', is home to the Farto cooperative, specializing in farm-made reblochon. It is only natural that in La Clusaz, a neighboring resort nestled at the foot of the Aravis mountain range, the great festival dedicated to this emblematic cheese takes place every summer.

A Day of Mountain Traditions at Bossonnet

The Reblochon and Crafts Festival takes place every year on a Sunday in August at Bossonnet, at the foot of the La Clusaz ski lifts. The day begins with an open-air mass, celebrated in period costumes in a solemn and warm atmosphere. Then the show begins: a parade of herds – cows, goats, sheep – accompanied by flower-adorned floats and farmers in traditional attire moves through the site, recreating the atmosphere of agricultural fairs of yesteryear.

The most anticipated moment is the live production of farm-made reblochon, carried out in a large copper cauldron under the public's gaze. Cheesemakers explain each step of the process, from milking to molding, perpetuating ancestral know-how. At the same time, rural scenes are recreated: milking of cows and goats, production of tomme blanche, haymaking, sheep shearing, bread baking in a communal wood-fired oven.

Craftsmanship and Old Trades

The festival also highlights the traditional artisanal crafts of the Savoyard mountains. Artisans demonstrate woodworking – making 'tavaillons' (wooden shingles), turning, carving – wool spinning, rope making, and other skills passed down from generation to generation. A market of local producers and artisans allows visitors to buy farm-made reblochons, chevrotins, tommes, abondances, honeys, cured meats, and other local products.

The day continues with folk dances, donkey races, a raffle, and a countryside meal featuring Savoyard specialties. In the evening, a concert concludes the festival in a festive and friendly atmosphere.

La Clusaz and the Thônes Valley: Land of Reblochon

La Clusaz is an authentic village resort in the Aravis, renowned for its ski area, its preserved natural environment, and its attachment to mountain traditions. The resort is inseparable from the Thônes Valley, with which it shares its pastoral and cheese-making identity. The Reblochon Festival embodies this identity: it is not a static folkloric show, but a living celebration of a rural heritage that continues to nourish the valley's economy and culture.