With a population of less than 500, Rossinière has remained a typical mountain village untouched by industrialization. At the beginning of the 20th century, forestry was the primary source of income, bringing a degree of prosperity to the inhabitants. Today forestry no longer plays more than a minor role, but farming still characterizes the village. The export hit is the famous l'Étivaz alp cheese, much valued for its spicy flavour. It is made in the region's alpine pastures from the milk of cows grazing the nearby pastures.

Superb wooden houses set the the village of Rossinière apart. The chalet facades feature intricate and delicate details, and can be admired on a one-hour themed trail through the village. The star of the show is the Grand Chalet with its expansive, elaborately adorned facade spanning five floors and interspersed with 113 windows. The Grand Chalet was built around 1756 for Jean David Henchoz, a farmer, notary and judge who wanted to build a cheese store. And thus the cellar was responsible for the house’s dimensions – as it was intended for the storage and ripening of 600 wheels of cheese. The upper floor was reserved for business matters: this is where merchants from Bulle, Vevey and even Lyon would haggle over the price of export cheese. In 1976, the Grand Chalet was purchased by the painter Balthus, Count Balthasar Klossowski de Rola (1908-2001). He resided here with his wife and their daughter, painted and received celebrities and artists from all over Europe.

Below the village, the Saane river has been dammed to create a charming little lake, the Lac du Vernex.