The world’s largest raclette event set a new record in Martigny, Switzerland, where organisers brought together 4,893 people, including 361 racleurs, on Saturday evening.
Raclette is a Swiss fondue-like dish consisting of scraped off cheese molten in a special oven. The cheese usually has the same name as the dish — raclette.
The first edition of the largest “raclonette” drew 2,236 participants in Saint-Etienne, France, in March 2024. The second edition on 22 March this year saw 2,522 guests in attendance.
“This is a phenomenal success, an incredible record, and what enthusiasm from both the public and the racleurs,” said Eddy Baillifard, the mastermind behind the world record attempt.
The event in the canton of Valais aimed to host 4,000 raclette enthusiasts, a goal that was exceeded by more than 20%. All tickets were sold out in just one hour and 20 minutes back in mid-February.
“We couldn’t let the French hold the record for the world’s largest raclette. More importantly, we wanted to showcase raclette as a cultural heritage and highlight the authenticity and excellence of Valaisan AOP cheese, a symbol of Swiss gastronomy,” summarised Samuel Bonvin, director of myexpo and organiser of the event.
A total of 2,037 kilogrammes of cheese, 1,200 kg of potatoes, and 1,212 jars of pickles and onions were consumed.
To serve the thousands of attendees, 361 racleurs participated in the event.
Due to budget constraints (15,000 Swiss francs) and time limitations, the organisers did not invite representatives from the Guinness Book of Records to verify their achievement. “We know we’re the best, and that’s enough for us,” concluded Eddy Baillifard, already eager to relive the experience. The record of 4,893 participants was validated by a notary.
