Cattle Descent Parades in the Swiss countryside

Shirley,

I don't know about all the areas you mentioned, but in the Berner Oberland your best bet to see that is probably in Lauterbrunnen (only a short train ride from Wengen). I suspect the actual date this occurs each year may depend on weather and other circumstances, but you could check with local hotels as they may be able to offer more information.

I was fortunate to be in Lauterbrunnen on 27 September on a trip a few years ago, and was able to see one of the "cattle parades" first hand. They can be heard a long time before they can be seen, and the event was a lot of fun. Once they have made the run through town, they gathered in a field at the end of town for a short time, and of course every tourist in town was snapping lots of pictures. Apparently the cow with the largest Bell and most elaborate floral headdress is the top, award winning cow.

Good luck!

I'm not sure that you will get info much in advance, but you could ask at the tourist info offices locally in each region, or email them (such as info@lauterbrunnen.ch). This is how Rick words it in the Appenzell chapter: "If you’re here at the right time, you might luck into seeing the festive procession of cows heading up to the high-mountain pastures (Alpfahrt, generally late May-early June) or returning from a summer high in the Alps (Alpabfahrt, generally late Aug-early Sept). Unfortunately, the cows don’t give much advance notice--announcements of the event pop up around town just a few days ahead."

PS This Gimmelwald site suggests flexible timing around Sept. 20.

Thank you for the guidance... I will check with the TI in the areas when we arrive and hope serendipitous events happen! Would just LOVE to see it!!

Here is a little informationAscent & Descent of the Cattle. We were in Valais last summer for a few weeks and the cattle are everything there! The descent usually happens in early fall not just with cattle but also with sheep - here is information on this...Descent of the Sheep.

Thank you, Anita! Hope we're there at the right time!

It's not Switzerland... but in Oberstdorf, in the Allgäuer Alps of Bavaria, cattle walk to and from their pastures daily through the town. It's not a formal event, more like just the daily commute for some hard-working cows. I don't know why, but there's something I just find very relaxing about the sound of Alpine cow bells ringing through the town.

I'd like that too!