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Cows hurded to the stables(alps)

Will I see the cows moving to the stables if I stay in Gimmelwald June 18th through the 21st of 2019 or will at least would they be there during this time? thanks
Don

Posted by
3518 posts

If you mean bringing the cows in from the summer pastures, that happens at the end of summer, June is start of summer. I was lucky to see it in September a couple years ago.

Posted by
2527 posts

Cows, like people, holiday in August, so will be working in June.

Posted by
1194 posts

I was there in mid September and the cows were still on the mountain. It’s totally weather dependent.

I’d recommend taking in a cow festival instead. Those are a load of fun. There’s extreme competition over who’s cow has the best milk, healthiest, etc. Getting the queen cow award is a huge deal. But June may be the wrong time.

With all that said, you most likely will see cows if you decide to hike around the mountains.

Posted by
768 posts

The places I've always seen cows: Allmendhubel, Mannlichen, Spielbodenalp (above Gimmelwald).
I'll admit that these times were in July and Aug. Still, even if you don't see them, the above places are worth going to just for the great scenery!

Posted by
11294 posts

Cows move higher up in the mountains for the summer, and back down in the fall. So in June, they'll be in the mountains above Gimmelwald. Ask at your accommodation where you can see them.

I was in Lauterbrunnen in September 2017, and a few days after I was leaving, they were having the cow parade down from the mountains. Since it depends on the weather, the day varies each year and is only announced a few days before.

Posted by
3951 posts

We were in Switzerland a week ago and had close encounters on our walk from Männlichen to Scheidegg. The cows were up above us half way along the hike and then we noticed a herder with a stick herding them down. The next thing we knew they were having a stare down with us and a few other hikers and the herder had to move them across our trail down the mountain to the pasture and barn where they were headed for their evening milking? We saw another herd as we waited st Scheidegg for the train back to Wengen challenginging the little red train as they crossed the tracks.

Edit: this was happening between 4-5pm.

Posted by
32202 posts

don,

As someone else mentioned, if you're referring to the "cow parade" when the animals are brought down from the high meadows, that often takes place later in September. I happened to be in Lauterbrunnen one year and the parade occurred on 27 September, as I recall. The cows were all wearing bells along with their finest floral head dress.

I doubt there will be anything happening around mid-June, but there will be cows in the meadows around Gimmelwald. When you arrive there, ask the staff at your hotel if there are any "cow events" planned at that time.

Regarding Wengen vs. Lauterbrunnen, you may be able to save parking expenses by staying in Lauterbrunnen. Some hotels provide free parking for guests, such as Hotel Oberland - https://www.hoteloberland.ch/en/infos-2/service-information/ .

Posted by
19092 posts

The German word is "Viehscheid", separating of the beasts. The cows from each town spend the summer in the mountains, in a common pasture, and, in the fall, are driven back into town and separated out to their individual owner, in whose barn they will stay for the winter.

I was in a German alpine town in March, and the cows were still in the barns, and the town reeked. It is a mystery to me why the real celebration isn't when they finally send those stinking beasts out of town and up to the mountains.