[THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN AS PART OF A PAID PARTNERSHIP WITH JURA & TROIS-LACS.]
When you buy cheese from the Fromagerie des Franches-Montagnes in Le Noirmont, you support local farmers that generally operate within four kilometers of this new facility. Inaugurated in spring 2019, the fromagerie also has a visitor center where you can learn more about the Jura region and its dairy farmers.
Every day, thousands of liters of milk arrive at the fromagerie for processing into cheese. From the gallery of visitor center, you can see the cheese aging on wooden planks during your visit.
6 types of cheese you should try at Fromagerie des Franches-Montagnes
During your visit to the Fromagerie des Franches-Montagnes, I recommend tasting at least six of the cheeses made on-site with cow’s milk. Two of these cheeses have earned an AOP designation (appellation d’origine contrôlée).
- Tête de Moine AOP: The classic semi-hard cheese from the Jura that you form into rosettes with a Girolle. In the visitor center, you can see a prototype of this special tool, created in the 1980s. At the shop, you can purchase your very own Girolle to take home. You’ll find three types of Tête de Moine AOP with different maturation periods: min. 75 days (Classic), min. 4 months (Reserve) and min. 6 months (Extra).
- Le Gruyère AOP: While the fromagerie is not located with the region of Gruyères, it can produce this hard cheese because the AOP boundaries includes the canton of Jura, among other areas. Maturation period: 6-9 months (Classic), min. 10 months (Reserve).
- Noirmont: Named for the town where the fromagerie is situated, Noirmont is a semi-hard cheese. Maturation period: 3-4 months.
- Roc-Montès: A semi-hard mountain cheese that’s only made in Le Noirmont. Maturation period: 4-6 weeks.
- Franches-Montagnes: Named for this region of the Jura, this is a semi-hard mountain cheese. Maturation period: 5-8 weeks.
- Taignon: The newest cheese to join the assortment. Taignon refers to the people who inhabit the Franches-Montagnes region. Maturation period: approx. 5 months.
Planning your visit
How to get there:
Fromagerie des Franches Montagnes SA
Rue de l’Avenir 2
CH-2340 Le Noirmont
Tél. +41 (0)32 952 19 00
Public transit: It takes approximately 15 minutes to walk to the fromagerie from the Le Noirmont train station.
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 9h00 at 18h00
Store open from 7h00 Wednesday and Friday
You can pick up everything you need for a picnic at the shop to have lunch at the outdoor seating area. They will even set you up with everything you need for a fondue. The shop also has many other regional specialties from the Jura.
Watch cheese being made: Every day from approx. 10h30-11h00
Admission fees:
The admission fees, which range from CHF 8-20, includes entry to the visitor center, as well as a cheese tasting (or more).
