Smallholding (firm-restaurant)
See also: Smallholding
The term of smallholding indicates the firm-restaurants which mark out the peaks of the the Jura Suisse, in particular in the area of the the Bernese Jura, the French-speaking part of the canton of Bern.
A smallholding is a farm of isolated mountain which offers a service of restoration. In general, the restaurant of a smallholding is exploited by the country family parallel to the agricultural domain, but does not constitute its principal activity.
In the beginning the smallholdings were built on the mountains by the bourgeoisies of certain surrounding communes in order to bring the animals for the summer to it. One or more people spent the beautiful season there to deal with the cattle. In France at the century, the sharecroppers had the obligation to deliver half of the income of the field which they exploited with the owner. It is possible that the word sharecropper generated the smallholding term in the Swiss Jura, term particulièrment used in the area of Chasseral. The common owners of the fields often gave their name, such as for example the Smallholding of the Medium of Bienne, the Smallholding of Nidau, Prêles or of Aarberg.
Today, there still exists of many smallholdings which are exploited actively. Some of them produce cheese with the milk of the cows which are there during the beautiful season. In particular, the Gruyère of mountain pasture makes the happiness of the authentic amateurs of savors. In addition, one also produced there yellow brandy of Gentian, typical plant of the Jurassic peaks.
The hosts of the smallholdings are accommodated there within a simple and cordial country framework. The menus proposed go from the Plat Bernese to the Rösti S, kind of large wafer of potatoes and with the Fondue. The tastes of the soil kept a great authenticity in these establishments. There exist several guides gathering the smallholdings, they are in particular available near the tourist bureaus of the area.
In France, these establishments are called the farm inns.
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