Fondue galore from Métabief to Les Rousses!

Winter has come but there's still no snow? How about venturing along the Comté Routes for a weekend on the theme of cheese between the destination's two ski resorts, les Rousses et Métabief? Here, you can expect to see fondue galore, with the secrets of making comté, visit a bell foundry, a gourmet hike and a selection of great restaurants to enjoy comté, Mont d'Or and other delicious cheeses from our mountains.

Day 1 - morning: 'underneath' the Comté Routes

Visit a maturing cellar several metres underground

The first step of your underground exploation of the Comté Routes begins in a maturing cellar. You are spoilt for choice in the Jura Mountains so you can choose from the 2 most well-known cellars along the Comté Route:

A few km from the resort of Métabief, the Marcel Petite maturing cellars at Fort Saint-Antoine invite you to come and explore the spectacular galleries, shaped into the rock. This underground 'cathedral' shelters more than 100,000 wheels of Comté per year.
The Fort des Rousses and prestigious Charles Arnaud cellar, at the centre of the resort, are also open to the public. The fortifications are 214 m long and 14 m wide, making them unique in Europe, and offering cool temperatures at all times, which are ideal for comté.

Just the right temperature

Did you know?

For the perfectly soft texture and ideal taste, comté has to be left to mature for at least 4 months. In the silent, dark maturing cellars, this cheese develops until it becomes ripe. The temperature and humidity levels are carefully controlled, between 12 and 16 degrees, for the ultimate comté cheese.

Day 1 - afternoon: an original fondue experience

Witness the birth... of a bell

Where there’s Comté, there are cows – and where there are cows, there are cowbells chiming around their necks! What would the Jura Mountains be without the melodic sound of these bells echoing across pastures and alpine meadows since time immemorial?

These bells are the result of ancestral craftsmanship passed down through the Obertino family since... 1931! In their workshop near Métabief, you can watch each step of the traditional bell-making process, from casting to polishing. And why not take home a small bell of your own? Ring it to bring back memories of your getaway in our mountains.

The Obertino Artisan Bell Foundry

Day 1 - evening: a great night's sleep

A cosy place to stay

After an action-packed day of underground adventures and visits, there's nothing better than a cosy place to stay where you can admire the Jura Mountains. Halfway between Métabief and Mouthe, here are two suggestions of places to stay.

Chez Liadet, a wooden chalet at the heart of the forest near Mouthe to sleep 8 people for a peaceful overnight stay in an exceptional location. This fully equipped rental is perfect for an evening as a family enjoying local specialities.
In Chaux-Neuve, in a wilder setting, Les Equipages Adam's invites you to come and spend the night on the edge of the forest in an environmentally friendly little wooden chalet. You're guaranteed a good night's sleep at this chalet for 2 to 4 people, soothed by the sound of the huskies nearby.

Appartments and Gîtes

Chalet Chez Liadet - La Loge MOUTHE

Other rental accomodation

Les Equipages Adam's - Chalet en bois CHAUX-NEUVE

Day 2: head for the heights

Fondue with a view at the Les Rousses resort

Even when there isn't much snow, it's still possible to head up to the peaks and enjoy a meal (cheese-based obviously) with a breathtaking view.

In winter, the guides from La Boîte à Montagne in Les Rousses or from Ô Jurassik near Saint-Claude will take you on introductory or sporty outings, depending on what you're looking for.

A little further up the mountain, a rewards awaits you! Whichever peak you decided to climb, you'll be able to admire the view across the French and Swiss peaks as you enjoy an unmissable comté fondue.

If you're lucky enough to come on a clear day, you'll be able to see the Alps in the distance.

Our recommendations

Enjoy some cheese-based specialities

To end this getaway on a high note, we recommend stopping off at a traditional restaurant. The chefs there work with local products to concoct their cheese-based specialities of the Jura Mountains... but that is not all! 'Boite chaude', comté fondue, 'morbiflette'... are you drooling yet?!