Just to inform everyone and especially any newbies to the Lac Leman area that the 21st "Desalpes de St-Cergue is on Saturday 27 September from 08.30am.
For those who are not familiar with the occasion it is when all the cows are bought down from the pastures for the winter. They have a "beauty contest " and the cows are adorned with trees & flowers on their heads.
It is truly spectacular and a great trip to take the family to.

I am sure that someone will post a link of other desalpes and pictures for me for anyone who is interested.

I wish somebody would post the link - it sounds great!

I'll be there

Thanks for that- we will definitely go! In the meantime, we have some visitors this weekend, so wouldnt mind going to another Desalpes this weekend as well- does anyone know if theres another one vaguely near Geneva taking place?
thanks!

Le Nouvelliste has a list of Valaisan desalps.

Confoundedly difficult to use , who seems to insist that I am really searching for Des Alpes, and is therefore returning a long list of hotels of that name

Just a reminder and for any new members to enjoy one of my favourite annual events.
This years is on the 2nd Oct 2010 - see you there!!!

Links: here and here.

Some Alpabzüge in the German speaking part of Switzerland
Information found in MySwitzerland

Sorry - these texts are in German here but have links to other pages.
At least you can find out the date and place.

Désalpe à L'Etivaz the 2 October 2010 at L'Etivaz
http://www.lake-geneva-region.ch/de/page.cfm/FesteFestivals/Brauchtum/desalpe

Canton Fribourg
http://www.fribourgregion.ch/fr/news...cat=&id=325182

2 Dates Charmey on 25. September and Albeuve on 2nd October


La Désalpe (I copied this explanation from Internet)

When the Alpine grass thins out in the fall, the cows of Haute Gruyères are led down to the village stables—in style, with huge bells around their necks and flowers and pine branches attached to their horns. Not to be outdone by their beasts, the cowherds wear their Sunday best: a dark blue jacket with embroidered edelweiss motifs and puffy short sleeves that optically double the width of the wearer's shoulders. With their black-trimmed straw caps, fancy pipes, and bushy beards, the men are the real stars of the day. The women, in red-checked aprons and flat straw hats, stay in the background.

To avoid two weeks of continual congestion on the roads, the foothill villages of Charmey (last Saturday in September) and Albeuve (first Saturday in October) have the herds descend together, making a folk festival of it. Decorated cows, heifers, sheep, goats, and even pigs are paraded through the streets from 9 AM until about 3 PM. The partying goes on all day, with flag throwing, marching bands, alpenhorn playing, and stalls selling Bénichon specialties. (Originally a benediction of the church, Bénichon has become a harvest celebration.)

Watch for the poyas adorning the front walls of Gruyères farmhouses. These are naive-style paintings of cows filing up to the high pastures in spring. They advertise which breed the farmer owns and symbolize hope for a productive summer. (Before the 1820s, cheese was only made up on the Alps, where the cows had the lushest grass; so farmers had four months a year to make their living.)



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Where is the one on the 2nd of october taking place?

There are 3! St Cerque, Albeuve, L'Etivaz

Taking place on October 1st this year in St. Cergue!

And in Charmey on 24 September!

Alpabzug Kerns - October 1
http://www.melchsee-frutt.ch/de/page...ug_kerns/94010

In Lignières, Kanton Neuchatel. On the 24th September at 2.00pm.

http://www.fetedeladesalpe.ch/
Take a look in the GALERIES on the link.

Salut Zämma