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Desalpes festivals underway in the mountains

Monday, 21 September 2026 06:35

Summer droughts have forced many Swiss cattle herders down from Alpine pastures earlier than usual, but the traditional désalpes will still take place across Romandy this autumn

Sembrancher in Valais opened the season on Sunday, with flower-crowned cows, Valais black-nose sheep and Alpine music parading through the village.

Charmey in the Gruyère, Saint-Cergue in the Vaud Jura, and L'Étivaz in the Pays-d'Enhaut all follow on 26 September, with Semsales in Fribourg wrapping up the celebrations on 2 October.

The festivals salute a farming community battered by successive heatwaves.

Organisers are urging visitors to travel by public transport as village roads will be closed.

 

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