Author: Marie Tardy

Every year, major sporting events allow the entire mountain biking world to experience emotions that leave a lasting impression. These events forge the character of an entire region, a generation and its descendants. Les Gets has seen a non-stop succession of the greatest champions, as well as many faithful amateurs in search of sensations and wide-open spaces! Now 18 years after hosting the World Mountain Bike Championships in 2004, history is repeating itself in Les Gets, the birthplace of the discipline more than 30 years ago. A new page in the history of Les Gets was written in August 2022, with the return of the UCI MTB World Championships in the heart of the Alps.

Genesis of a love story between mountain biking and Les Gets

Before enjoying the present moment, let’s go back in time… Let’s take a look at the history, at this inspiring story which links Les Gets and mountain biking from the 1990’s – only 30 years ago, but which seems like forever. This was a period when no one would have anticipated the development and growth of a discipline which, at that time, was reserved for a handful of aficionados – an elitist, closed group, often taken for crazy enthusiasts with their helmets and protective gear, racing down slopes far too steep to be taken on…

The question may be raised whether there is in fact a rational explanation for passion? The drive that pushes you to row against the grain, to take risks, to bet everything on a partner you are still getting to know but in whom you believe with all your strength and soul? Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about: love and passion – a mark of destiny, a strong and lasting alliance which has forged the character of the people of Les Gets and left its mark in the DNA of the village. Mountain biking has become its innovative flagship. Partners forever, mountain biking has very quickly occupied a prominant place in the life of the resort, perfectly alternating with skiing and its snowy pleasures, sharing the same domain, the same playground and the same infrastructures. Between Chavannes and Mont Chéry, mountain biking has found its place in Les Gets and has not finished delighting us!

Events as a flagship for mountain biking

With the range of sensations and intense emotions that mountain biking provides, it was impossible for the people of Les Gets not to make the most of it! What better showcase than the organisation of internationally renowned events to promote a discipline beyond our borders? On this premise, major events have been part of the daily life of all inhabitants and have largely contributed to developing the destination’s reputation and attraction. In 30 years, 14 major mountain bike events have been organised here, including 2 French Championships, 7 World Cups, 3 Crankworx and 2 World Championships… Enough to provoke callings, to generate passions, and to forge binding links with the great names who have left their mark by winning here, from Fabien Barrel to Julien Absalon, including Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Loana Lecomte.

All about mountain biking in Les Gets

Fondue is the ideal dish to warm up after (or during) a good day of skiing in Les Gets! A must-try winter dish, fondue is part of the Alps’ heritage. Savoyard fondue is a cheese fondue traditionally eaten with bread. Here is all you need to know about this speciality.

The origin of fondue 🫕

Fondue is a traditional Swiss dish, originating in the mountainous regions of the Swiss Alps. The first traces of fondue date back to the canton of Fribourg. Originally, fondue was a dish for farmers who used melted cheese for leftover dry bread and other foods that could no longer be eaten as is.

Over time, fondue became a popular dish in Switzerland and eventually crossed the borders to the French Alps with the Savoyard fondue.

Ingredients for the Savoyard fondue for 4 people

🧀 1 kg of cheese, i.e. 200 grams per person (Beaufort, Comté, Gruyère Savoyard)

🧄 1 clove of garlic

🍷 30 cl of Savoy white wine

🥚 1 egg (for the end)

🥖 2 baguettes

11 things to know about Savoyard fondue

🍻🍻 Whoever drops their piece of bread gets a paenalty or pays a round

🌽 You can add cornstarch to make your fondue thicker

🚰 You can make a fondue without wine by adding water or cider

🥗 Salad and a good bottle of white wine are the perfect accompaniments for the Savoyard fondue… The more daring may wish to add some charcuterie

🫕 You have to stir the fondue by forming an 8 with your wooden spoon

🫕 You can add dehydrated mushrooms, mustard, pepper… Each one of these adds flavour

🥖 Ideally you use stale bread from the day before

🥚 It’s traditional to crack an egg at the end when there’s hardly any cheese left… it’s really quite good

🧀 The nun is the layer of cheese that remains at the bottom of the fondue pot at the end of the fondue

🧂 For easier cleaning, leave cold water and salt in the fondue pot overnight

Where to eat a fondue in Les Gets?

Whether it be on the slopes at lunchtime after a good morning’s skiing or in the evening in the heart of the snowy resort, fondue can be eaten at any time. The main thing is to spend a convivial moment with family or friends. So what could be better than to share this moment in a restaurant in Les Gets?

I discover the restaurants

Of course, you can also enjoy your raclette at home by the fire if you prefer. Find our list of shops in Les Gets where you can order good raclette cheese and charcuterie.

❗️good to know: some shopkeepers in Les Gets lend out raclette pots.

Find out more about the merchants

Now you know all about the history of fondue. You will be able to shine at your fondue parties, fully primed with all these tips and information. Enjoy your meal!

Today is national raclette day! And doesn’t this delicious, mouth-watering dish deserve its moment of glory? Raclette is a comfort food par excellence. Cheese, potatoes, cold meats and gherkins, the perfect combination after (or during) a good day’s skiing in Les Gets.

On national raclette day, learn more about this typical mountain dish.

The history of raclette 🧀

According to legend, the history of the raclette dates back to the Middle Ages in the Swiss mountains of the Valais canton.  Preparing this famous dish was much different then to how we do it now. Since the goal was to melt the cheese near a source of heat, like a fire in the hearth, it was essentially roasted cheese! The cheese had to be scraped (racler) so it would slide onto the plate. It was Léon, a Swiss shepherd, who discovered this one winter when he wanted to eat a delicious warm dish.

In the 1970s, raclette became a popular dish with the invention of the raclette machine, thanks to a famous French household appliance brand. During the same period, raclette crossed the border into France and later become a favourite dish with the French.

Raclette in a few figures in France

🧀 4th most popular cheese produced in France at almost 64,000 tonnes per year.

🧀 2.1kg is the average consumption of raclette cheese per household per year

🧀 83% of households have a raclette machine

🧀 In 1st position, it’s France’s favourite dish

🧀 200g of cheese and 4 potatoes per person makes a successful raclette

10 tips for a successful raclette party

🧀 Each person needs their own pan… they cannot be expected to wait or share their cheese!

🏋️ You need ventilation … eating a raclette is like a sport, it warms you up.

🧀 Provide enough cheese and cold meats… Better to have too much than too little

🍷 Remember one or more bottles of wine… You need to wash it down

😍 You can put 2 slices of cheese at the same time… We can never say it enough, cheese is life. Especially in Les Gets, cheese is a gourmet heritage

👍🏻 Loosen the belt in anticipation… You need to be in a comfortable outfit for a successful raclette party

⛷️ There is no season to eat raclette… But it is still better after a good day of skiing in Les Gets

🍽 Offer several varieties of raclette cheese… smoked, plain, with wild garlic, with pepper, for a pleasant change

🥗 Ensure the aperitif and starter is light… leave as much room as possible for eating the raclette

🫖 End with a delicious herbal tea or a little glass of genepi… to help you digest all that cheese

Where can you eat raclette at Les Gets?

On the slopes at lunchtime after a good morning’s skiing or in the evening in the heart of the snowy resort, you can eat a raclette at any time. The main thing is to enjoy the moment with family or friends. And what could be better than experiencing this in one of Les Gets’ restaurants?

I discover the restaurants

If you’d like to eat raclette in your accommodation by the fire before watching a Christmas film, you can! Browse our list of Les Gets shops where you can order delicious raclette cheese as well as cold meats.

❗️Top tip: shop owners in Les Gets can loan you a raclette machine

More about the retailers

You can also eat your own raclette on the slopes with small appliances that work without electricity thanks to candle warmers or on the belvedere of Les Nauchets where you will find wooden tables as well as electrical outlets to plug in your raclette. This spot in Les Chavannes offers a magnificent view of the ski area!

You now know everything about the history of raclette. You will be able to shine at your raclette parties with all these tips and information.

Want to know one last secret? Raclette is better when eaten in Gets 🥰