The Route du Comté

How the Route Works

There is no single road to follow. The interprofession lists the fruitières that welcome visitors alongside farms, cellars and museums, filterable by department. It also publishes 26 suggested trips, from a day in Poligny to multi-day walks across the Haut-Doubs. Most fruitières have a shop selling their own Comté, often in several ages, plus Morbier, butter and cream.

Fruitières With Viewing Galleries

Fromagerie du Haut-Jura, Les Moussières

A cooperative at 1,100 metres in the Hautes-Combes, and one of the last four dairies that make Bleu de Gex as well as Comté. A free gallery looks over the workshops; arrive before 10am to see the cheese made, and finish with a ten-minute film. The shop opens Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 9:30am to noon and 3:30 to 6:30pm, Sundays and holidays 9:30am to noon and 3:30 to 6pm, and closes on Tuesdays. 27 rue de Lajoux.

Fruitière de la Vallée du Hérisson, Doucier

By the Lac de Chalain and close to the Hérisson waterfalls, so easy to combine with a walk. The gallery shows Comté and Morbier being made; the key steps happen between 8:30 and 9:30am. The shop opens Monday to Saturday 8:30am to noon and 2:30 to 7pm, and every day in the summer holidays.

Fruitière des Lacs, Labergement-Sainte-Marie

A large chalet built in 2014 between Mouthe, Malbuisson and Métabief, with a multimedia gallery in French and English over the make room, where the cheesemakers work each morning. Shop hours: weekdays 9am to 12:15pm and 4 to 7pm, Saturdays 9am to 12:15pm and 2 to 7pm, Sunday mornings.

Fruitière Bio de Chapelle-des-Bois

An organic fruitière since 1976, in a Haut-Doubs village at 1,100 metres. A window looks into the workshop. Guided visits are by appointment and cost €3 for adults and €2 for children, with a tasting of two Comtés, Morbier and tomme.

Fruitière de Grande-Rivière

A gallery in four parts: old tools, an interactive exhibition, the make room and a video room. Open with the shop, Tuesday to Sunday; closed Mondays.

Fruitière du Temps Comté, Pont-du-Navoy

In the Combe d'Ain. A window at the back of the shop looks onto the make room, and the cheesemakers give booked tours of the workshop and cellars on weekdays except Wednesday, for early risers.

Fromagerie de l'Abbaye, Chézery-Forens

A Bleu de Gex dairy deep in the Valserine valley in the Ain. The gallery over the make room is free between 8:30 and 10am. The shop is open daily except Thursday.

Ageing Cellars

Two old mountain forts now age Comté and take visitors. The Fort des Rousses in the Jura runs guided tours every day, booked online.

The Fort Saint-Antoine, at 1,100 metres between the Mont d'Or and the Lac de Saint-Point, has aged Comté for Fromageries Marcel Petite since 1966 and holds about 100,000 wheels. The 90-minute guided tour follows walkways and vaulted galleries through the cellars, ends with a tasting and a talk with one of the cellar masters, and is by appointment only. Book through the Métabief, Malbuisson and Les Fourgs tourist office (+33 3 81 69 31 21) or the fort (+33 3 81 49 14 34). English and German tours are possible. Bring warm clothes and closed shoes.

Mont d'Or and Morbier

Many Haut-Doubs fruitières also make Mont d'Or in winter and Morbier all year. The Fromagerie du Mont d'Or in Métabief has a free gallery open every day.

Not Open to Individual Visitors

Rivoire-Jacquemin's large cellar at Montmorot, near Lons-le-Saunier, only takes pre-formed groups, by appointment.