Batailles de Reines – Gignod Elimination
A spring stage of the Regional Contest of the reines, in the Buthier arena
About Batailles de Reines in Gignod
The Batailles de Reines, the rural soul of the Aosta Valley
The Batailles de Reines ("battles of the queens") are the most characteristic peasant tradition of the Aosta Valley: not a cruel fight, but a re-enactment of the natural behaviour of Aosta Valley breed cows, which challenge each other on mountain pastures to establish the herd's hierarchy. The reines are the most combative animals, selected and trained by breeders, and they face each other in bloodless horn clashes until one of them retreats.
The Gignod elimination round
The municipality of Gignod, along the historic road to the Great St Bernard Pass, in the province and Region of the Aosta Valley, hosts one of the spring elimination rounds of the Regional Contest organized by the Association Régionale Amis des Batailles de Reines in the Buthier arena. The competing cows, sometimes over a hundred, are divided into three weight categories and compete for the places that grant access to the regional final.
How the day unfolds
- In the morning, the official weighing of the cows, which determines the categories;
- At noon, the start of the clashes, divided by weight categories;
- In the afternoon, the awards ceremony, with the presentation of the prestigious bouquet of flowers to the winners.
The regional final
The best reines from each elimination round qualify for the regional final, which takes place in autumn in the Croix-Noire arena in Aosta and crowns the absolute queen of the year. The Gignod event is therefore a step in a grand journey that crosses the entire valley, from spring to autumn.
Batailles de Reines in Gignod — edition 2026
The Buthier arena, in Gignod, hosted on Sunday, April 19, 2026, the fourth spring elimination round of the 69th Regional Batailles de Reines Contest, organized by the Association Régionale Amis des Batailles de Reines. Of the 148 registered cows, 139 entered the arena before a large and enthusiastic crowd, divided into the three weight categories. Twelve places for the regional final were at stake.
Programme Batailles de Reines in Gignod 2026
Sunday, April 19, 2026 — Buthier Arena, Gignod
- 9:00-11:00 AM — Official weighing of the cows and formation of categories.
- 12:30 PM — Start of the fights divided by weight categories (First: 29 cows; Second: 48 cows; Third: 62 cows).
- Afternoon — Announcement of the winners and awards ceremony.
Results
- First category: winner Caprice (810 kg) by Livio Pervier, Aosta; second Mandolla.
- Second category: winner Malizia by Vilmo Bizel, Morgex; second Kamala.
- Third category: winner Bambinò by Aurelio Cretier, Saint-Christophe; second Kilowatt.
The regional final of the 69th Contest is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Croix-Noire arena in Aosta. Full calendar at amisdesreines.it.
Highlights Batailles de Reines in Gignod 2026
Prices Batailles de Reines in Gignod 2026
Practical information — Batailles de Reines in Gignod
How to get there
Gignod is located along the SS27 of the Great St Bernard, a few kilometers north of Aosta. By car: A5 motorway, Aosta exit, then SS27 towards Gran San Bernardo; the arena is in the Buthier area. By train: Aosta station, then local bus towards the Great St Bernard Valley.
Times and admission
The day opens with the weighing in the morning (approximately from 9 am to 11 am) and continues with the fights from 12:30 pm. Info: Association Régionale Amis des Batailles de Reines, amisdesreines.it.
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Where does it take place — Batailles de Reines in Gignod
Arena di Buthier, Gignod
Località Buthier, 11010 Gignod