Almabtrieb in Matsch

The autumn cattle drive in Matsch

The Almabtrieb in Matsch is the festival that marks the return of livestock from high-altitude pastures to the valley every September. It takes place in Matsch, one of the most secluded and picturesque villages in the Upper Vinschgau, part of the municipality of Mals in the province of Bolzano, in the Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol region. It is an event deeply rooted in local farming culture, where tradition is not staged for tourists but lived by the entire village community.

What is the Almabtrieb?

After a summer spent on alpine pastures, the herds are brought down to the valley at the beginning of autumn before the cold makes life at high altitudes impossible. When the grazing season ends without incident, the return becomes a moment of celebration and thanksgiving: the animals are adorned with flower garlands, conifer branches, bells, and mirrors and led down the trails to the village. The most beautiful herd and the cows that produced the most milk often receive special decorations, following a ritual passed down for generations in the South Tyrolean valleys.

The village festival

Upon arriving in Matsch, the herdsmen and animals are welcomed by the community with great cheer. The day continues with folk music, food and wine stalls, and the chance to taste alpine specialties: cheese, milk, butter, and dishes from the rural Vinschgau cuisine. It is an opportunity to experience firsthand the ancient bond between the village families, their animals, and the surrounding mountains, set against a backdrop of meadows and forests at the foot of the Upper Vinschgau peaks.

Matsch and the Upper Vinschgau

Matsch is located in a quiet side valley, far from major transit routes, and retains an intact rural character. The village is part of the Mals territory, in the far western corner of South Tyrol, just a short distance from the triple border with Switzerland and Austria. The Matsch Almabtrieb is part of the calendar of numerous autumn cattle drives in the Vinschgau valley, each with its own dates and customs, and represents one of the most genuine expressions of the region's alpine heritage.