Discover the secrets of the mountain pastures at Flaine

High mountain pastures, where the shepherd and his flock live in harmony with nature, are called alpages. In Savoie and Haute-Savoie, most of the mountain pastures are at altitudes of between 1,200 and 2,500 metres. They are mainly dairy pastures.

Alpine pastures, like pastoralism, are part of the cultural and historical heritage of the Alps. Every year for centuries, shepherds have taken their animals to the mountain meadows at the end of May, during the transhumance period, also known as remue.

The animals spend the summer and early autumn months here, enjoying the abundant, high-quality grass. Farmers in Haute-Savoie use these few months to mow the fields and meadows in the valley's countryside. The dried grass is then used as fodder over the winter.

The mowing seasons are also celebrated. Great festivals are held at the time of the transhumance, during the emmontagnée and the démontagnée. Don't hesitate to contact the Flaine Tourist Office to find out the dates of the remues if you'd like to take part in this mountain tradition.

While the animals graze at their leisure at altitude, some of the milk collected is directly processed by the mountain farmer on site, using traditional know-how. The milk is used to make a wide range of cheese products, some of which have PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status, including Tome des Bauges, Beaufort, Abondance and Reblochon. So if you're a fan of local cheeses, pay a visit to the mountain farms that offer tastings and sales to visitors.

Pastoralism is a way of life in its own right. Responsible for the upkeep of the natural high-altitude pastures, the alpacist stays on the mountain pastures throughout the summer. The chalet that serves as the alpacist's home also includes the milking parlour.

Set off along the Flaine hiking trails to reach the mountain pastures and experience the passion of this ancestral profession based on an interdependent relationship between man and animal. This trail, which takes around three hours to complete, is a rewarding, instructive and tasty activity not to be missed if you're staying in Flaine in summer or early autumn.

Take this magnificent walk overlooking the resort of Flaine. You'll see the traditional skills of the mountain farmers of Haute-Savoie in the Aujon mountain pasture, where the milk is processed on site.

During your excursion to the mountain pastures in the Grand Massif, you'll discover the flora and fauna characteristic of the Alpine mountains. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of chamois or marmots. Once there, don't hesitate to extend your visit with a round trip to the Belvédère d'Aujon from the Chalets d'Aujon. From this superb vantage point, you can admire the Magland valley and some of the peaks of the Aravis range (Pointe d'Areu and Pointe Percée).