The Craftman Road

OVERVIEW

Discover how local artisans make cheese, blow glass and weave alpaca wool using time-honored traditional techniques. Your immersion into these crafts will include the family-owned Fromagerie Boivin, where you will see how a variety of cheeses is made and then sample a selection of them. One of the most popular items is a cheese curd that squeaks when you chew it. You will enhance your understanding of glass-blowing at the Touverre Workshop as the craftsmen demonstrate how to manipulate glass into creative shapes. You may also learn about the materials needed to produce glass and the history of glass-blowing. Similarly, at the Alpaga Bersi farm, you will see how craftsmen skillfully weave alpaca wool into sweaters, hats, scarves and other clothing. Unlike sheep’s wool, alpaca wool doesn’t contain lanolin so it is hypoallergenic.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample a variety of cheeses that are produced using traditional techniques.
• Watch glass-blowers manipulate molten glass into all sorts of useful and creative items.
• See how alpaca wool is woven into clothing with the added benefit of being hypoallergenic.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.