La Bénichon

VAL-DE-CHARMEY

The Bénichon is held in Gruyère on the second weekend in October. In Charmey, a traditional cart race is organised by the Société de Jeunesse on Saturday and Sunday. The fancy dress party gets underway on the Friday evening with a number of concerts and a DJ under the canteen tent in the car park in front of the cable car.

At lunchtime on Saturday, the traditional Bénichon menu is served in the canteen. Cuchaule AOP kicks things off with its famous Bénichon mustard. This is followed by cabbage soup and PDO Borne ham with meat and potatoes. To finish on a high note, meringues and double cream are followed by coffee and Benichon delicacies, including aniseed bread, bricelet, croquets, cuquettes and doughnuts. A schoolchildren's walking race signals the end of the digestion. Then comes the famous Cart Race, with the first round at the end of the day. The evening ends with a dance and then a DJ night.

The next day, it's back to work with an aperitif concert followed by the second round of the Cart Race. There's plenty of entertainment to keep everyone entertained until the prize-giving ceremony in the early evening.

Information: La Gruyère Tourime, +41 (0)848 424 424