THE PEOPLE OF SAMOENS AND THEIR SEVEN MOUNTAINS
The history of Samoëns is bound up with its ancestral farming activities and with the local geography, to such an extent that the etymology of the local place names 
and family names is closely linked to it.
The first explanation for the name insists on the seven peaks visible from the town, i.e. La Bourgeoise, Les Suets, Le Thuet, Le Criou, Les Pendants, La Tête de Verchey and La Tête de Trapechet. The second plausible explanation goes back to 1739, when a town council deliberation mentions the seven mountain pastures around Samoëns: Fréterolles, Chardonnière, Vigny, l'Aouille, Bostan, Oddaz, and Follys.
Traditionally in the Alps, the term “mountains” refers to mountain pastures. The pastures around Samoëns are put at the farmers' disposal free of charge, provided that the animals concerned are wintered in the locality.
Until the middle of the 20th century, the farmers using the mountain pastures looked after the herds and made tomme cheeses and butter on the spot. In some places, a milk pipe was used to take the precious liquid directly and quickly down to the valley, thus avoiding time-consuming round trips.
Nowadays, there are only a very small number of farmers who process the milk on the spot or take it down to the dairy. In most cases, the farmers take dry cows, heifers and sheep up to the mountain pastures.
This involves less human presence, and it hence leaves the farmers more time for haymaking and milking down in the valley.
People who are fond of country walks stand to gain by this, because they can see the quiet ruminants on the plateau des Saix, at Gers or Joux-Plane, close to the town or in the Vallon plain. Dairy products on all floors, so to speak, plus some pleasant visits and good solid teas that are available once a week at the Golèse mountain pastures.