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.
A tasty winter weekend
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, a fondue/caving outing (yes that's right), 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.
Fort des Rousses maturing cellar
Fort Saint-Antoine maturing cellar
The work of a cheese maturer
Just the right temperature
Did you know?
Day 1 - afternoon: an original fondue experience
Try a caving-fondue experience near Métabief
This is a highly original way to enjoy your meal: savour a comté fondue in the deep dark depths of the Jura Mountains!
This enjoyable and extraordinary experience with a caving guide is to be enjoyed as a family or with friends.
Noa-guides, specialised in outdoor activities, will take you on this exceptional outing near Métabief and the Doubs and near Les Rousses for the Jura.
So what exactly does this outing involve?
The concept is simple! Put on your caving gear, helmets and head lamps and set off to explore the underground world, before then enjoying a delicious comté fondue, made using the cheese that is produced just above your heads.
Find out more about caving-fondue outings
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.
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?!
Your getaway on the map
Family sportiness Les Rousses, the family-friendly resort of the Jura Mountains
Local produce
Caves d'affinage du Fort Saint-Antoine SAINT-ANTOINE
Industrial Site
Caves d'affinage du Comté JURAFLORE au Fort des Rousses LES ROUSSES
Skiing school, Cross country ski run, Zip line, Mountain bike
Noa Guides GELLIN
Restaurant
Restaurant la Remise LES VILLEDIEU
Hotels - restaurant
La Ferme du Père François LES ROUSSES
Restaurant
L'Anversis - Table de Montagne LAMOURA
Restaurant
Restaurant de la Fromagerie LES ROUSSES
Restaurant
Restaurant du Fromage MALBUISSON
Caving, Biathlon, Archery, Mountain bike, Rock climbing, Canyoning, Via Ferrata, Hiking, electric scooter, Kayak
La Boîte à Montagne LES ROUSSES
Trail, Hiking, Snowshoe walking, Mountain bike
Ô Jurassik COISERETTE
Appartments and Gîtes
Chalet Chez Liadet - La Loge MOUTHE
Other rental accomodation
Les Equipages Adam's - Chalet en bois CHAUX-NEUVESome exercise to burn off those excess calories?
The Great North Experience A dog-sled ride in the great outdoors
Nordic spirit Cross-country skiing and Nordic activities in the Nordic areas of Jura
Off the skis The best snowshoe hikes
Get moving the Nordic way! Backcountry skiing for a taste of freedom
