Cattle drive

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AN IMPORTANT DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR THE FARMERS

The cattle drive up to the mountain pastures is still an important day of celebration for the farmers. The cattle are driven up the mountain with great ceremony, with herdsmen and cattle often starting their long ascent in the middle of the night. The harmonious sounds can be heard far and wide: the three different bells ringing in unison, the yodelling of the herders, subdued mooing and the sharp barks of the Appenzell mountain dog, known here as a Bläss. At the outset visible only as a procession of silhouettes and then coming into clear focus as the sun rises, onlookers can admire the grandiose ancient choreography shared by all cattle drives. A boy in herdsman’s costume leads a herd of hornless white Appenzell goats, driven on by a girl in a traditional working dress with brown or blue stripes. Then the herder follows in full regalia. Over his left shoulder he carries his richly carved wooden milking bucket with a little round painting on its underside, the “Bödeli”. Three beautiful cows, carrying their heavy bells on beautifully decorated straps, follow behind. Four farmers in traditional dress march ahead of the rest of the herd, and the horse-drawn carriages with the tools needed on the mountains, along with the pigs, mark the end of the parade

FACTS

Dates May and September
Duration varies
German brochure “How to behave when encountering cattle herds”

cattle drive dates 2024

Saturday 4th of may 2024

  • 04:00 o'clock | Brunner Ernst | Schwellbrunn - Schönengrund - Bächli - Tell
  • 05:00 o'clock | Widmer Hans | Waldstatt - Urnäsch - Tiara - Blattendürren
  • 05:30 o'clock | Bodenmann Walter | Zürchersmühle - Rossfall
  • 06:00 o'clock | Jäger Urs | Wittenberg - Holzbau Mettler Schwellbrunn - Tiara Urnäsch
  • 08:00 o'clock | Zellweger Ernst | Schönau - Steinfluh
  • 08:00 o'clock | Biser Ueli | Mösli - Hüsli - Fischegg

Tuesday 7th  of may 2024

  • 07:45 o'clock | Oertle Sepp | Färchen - Urnäsch - Tiara

From this time on, the cattle drives will be seen on the main road.

Cattle drive routes 2024

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE CATTLE DRIVES

When do the cattle drives take place?

In spring, from May to June, the farmers move up to the mountain pastures with their animals. In autumn, the farmers move back down to the base farm.

The exact dates will be provided by the authorities at short notice and publicised on this page.

Last update on 09.02.2021 by TIH.

What do the different colours mean in the traditional costumes?

During the cattle drives, the farmers wear yellow and brown trousers. The yellow trousers are only worn by herdsmen who stay up on the mountain for the whole summer. The yellow trousers are generally only worn on the drive up the mountain.

Last update on 09.02.2021 by TIH.

How should I behave during the cattle drives?

Guidelines for drivers meeting “oncoming cattle herds” (German)

Guidelines for drivers meeting “cattle herds moving in the same direction” (German)

Last update on 09.02.2021 by TIH.