Agriculture and Beaufort AOP

Mountain agriculture requires specific expertise, including maintaining meadows and alpine pastures, milking cows at altitude, and making cheese. Agriculture is still very present in Bonneval sur Arc.

By grazing the meadows all summer, cows and ewes feast on grasses and flowers which will give all their flavors to the cheeses but also contribute to the quality of the ski slopes! Part of the pastures are transformed into ski slopes in winter.

Alpine pasture grazing helps to regenerate vegetation year after year. As the grass is of good quality, the snow "holds" better in winter, which facilitates the preparation of the slopes.

All year round, meet the farmers, the flocks in the alpine pastures and taste quality products made by passionate mountain people.

also known as the “Prince of Gruyères”, is produced from raw, whole milk. Since 1968, it has benefited from an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC – Protected Designation of Origin), which imposes very strict specifications, including regular checks on milk producers and a minimum maturing period of 5 months.
It comes in the form of a wheel weighing around 40 kg, 11 to 16 cm high and 35 to 75 cm in diameter, with a concave heel. Its paste is smooth, ivory to pale yellow in colour, initially firm on the palate and then melting.
10,000 wheels of Beaufort are produced each year by the Haute Maurienne Vanoise Cooperative. Each one is made on site in Val Cenis-Lanslebourg with the 5 million litres of milk collected annually from Modane to Bonneval sur Arc. Alpine Beaufort, summer Beaufort and winter Beaufort delight the taste buds of the finest gourmets!