Hundreds of Flower-Crowned Cows Parade Through a Swiss Village in This Fall Tradition
Hundreds of cows wearing flowers and giant bells just made their way through a small village in Switzerland.
The annual Entlebucher Alpabfahrt took place on September 26 in Schüpfheim. More than 300 cows and other cattle came down from their summer pastures in the Alps with seven local farming families.
It is basically their trip home for the winter. The animals spend the summer grazing around Sörenberg before returning to the valley near the end of September.
For the trip back, many are decorated with flowers and wear the large bells traditionally associated with the event.
More Than 300 Cattle Came Through Town
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This year, the first herds started leaving the mountain pastures as early as 7:30 a.m. The seven farming families began entering Schüpfheim around 11:15 a.m., with folklore groups mixed in.
The Entlebucher Alpabfahrt regularly brings around 10,000 visitors to the village. In 2019, attendance reached about 13,000.
The Cows Spend Their Summers In The Alps
Farmers in the Entlebuch traditionally take their cows to Alpine pastures around mid-June. They spend the summer eating grasses and herbs there before coming back down toward the end of September.
The cattle are decorated with flowers and fitted with large bells for the trip into the valley. Farmers and their families also wear traditional clothing as they walk alongside them.
The Parade Has Become A Huge Festival
Schüpfheim has been celebrating the Alpabfahrt as an organized public event since 2003.
The first large procession followed in 2004, when several Alpine farming families agreed to bring their herds down on the same day instead of choosing separate dates based on weather and how much grazing land they had left.
These days, much more is going on than cows walking through town. Visitors can shop for Alpine cheese, sausage, jam and other regional products. There is also yodeling, alphorn music, flag throwing and other performances throughout the day.
The next Schüpfheim Alpabfahrt is planned for September 25, 2027.
