As the UK gears up for the return of the famously chaotic Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, where brave participants throw themselves down a steep hillside in pursuit of a rolling wheel of cheese, the Swiss canton of Vaud is offering a more refined take on cheese celebrations.
Nestled in the picturesque Vallée de Joux, the annual Vacherin Mont-d’Or Festival brings together thousands of visitors each September to celebrate one of Switzerland’s most treasured seasonal delicacies.
Held in the 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. Unlike the adrenaline-fuelled scenes at Cooper’s Hill, the Swiss celebration embraces a slower pace, combining local traditions, regional produce and mountain culture in a quintessentially Swiss setting.
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. 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, taking place on 26 September 2026, offers travellers an authentic glimpse into the relaxed charm and culinary heritage of the Swiss Canton of Vaud.