Valais, Alps — Travelrags

Smithsonian MagazineSep 10, 2025

When the Cows Come Home in the Alps, the Swiss Eat Raclette

Every September, dairy farmers herd cattle from high-alpine pastures back to the villages where they reside for the winter and celebrate the occasion by roasting cheese over a fire

Canton where raclette cheese is produced

13 things in this story

ValaisNeighborhoodCanton where raclette cheese is produced
Blatten-BelalpNeighborhoodExperience the authentic “Schäful” festival on Belalp – with Valais specialities, folk music, a lively dance evening…
AnniviersNeighborhoodIt was formed through the merger of six municipalities in Val d'Anniviers: Ayer, Chandolin, Grimentz, Saint-Jean,…
CharmeyNeighborhoodOn 1 January 2014 the former municipalities of Charmey and Cerniat merged into the new municipality of Val-de-Charmey.
Krone Säumerei am InnRestaurantRestaurant in La Punt Chamues-ch
MatterhornSightMountain found in Valais
Aletsch GlacierSightGlacier found in Valais
NendazNeighborhoodVillage where Emilie Mariéthoz grew up
Hotel de MoiryHotelMountain hut in Grimentz serving raclette
Grand Hotel des Bains KempinskiHotelHotel in St. Moritz celebrating alpabzug
Engadin MountainsSightMountains surrounding St. Moritz
Grace La Margna St. MoritzHotelHotel with executive chef Andrea Bonini
La Punt Chamues-chNeighborhood

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Valais

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When the Cows Come Home in the Alps, the Swiss Eat Raclette