Batailles de Reines - Pont-Saint-Martin Elimination Round
The first elimination round of the season for the Aosta Valley queens
About Batailles de Reines Pont-Saint-Martin
Opening the Queens' Season
The Batailles de Reines (Queens' Battles) are the most famous rural tradition in the Aosta Valley: natural encounters between cows of the Aosta Valley breed, who compete according to the species' hierarchical instinct to establish the "queen" of the herd. The challenges, never violent, end when one of the two cows retreats. The Pont-Saint-Martin elimination round has the honour of opening the Regional Competition season, which in 2026 will be in its 69th edition.
Pont-Saint-Martin, Gateway to the Valley
The first Aosta Valley town encountered when arriving from Piedmont, Pont-Saint-Martin hosts the inaugural stage of the calendar. Hundreds of cows, divided into categories based on weight, compete for the first points of the season. Weigh-ins take place in the morning, and the challenges begin in the early afternoon.
A Tradition Uniting the Valley
The elimination round is a major social event: breeders from all over the Aosta Valley present their queens, the public follows the challenges with passion, and the event becomes a celebration for the farming community. The top-ranked queens in each category qualify for the regional final, held in autumn at the Croix-Noire. The event is organised by the association Amis des Reines.
Batailles de Reines Pont-Saint-Martin — edition 2026
The Pont-Saint-Martin elimination round on March 29, 2026, inaugurated the 69th Regional Competition of the Batailles de Reines, the first of fifteen stages in the new calendar. 145 cows were registered (130 actually competing), divided into three categories.
Weigh-ins took place between 9 and 11 AM, with challenges starting at 12:30 PM. The winners were Miccia (first category, breeder Joël Follin of Antey-Saint-André), Altesse (second category, Piero Busso of Donnas), and Monella (third category, Italo Lazier of Fontainemore). The prize for the heaviest cow went to Calinne (800 kg, Piero Ottin of Villeneuve). The top-ranked cows in each category advance to the regional final on October 25th at Croix-Noire.
Programme Batailles de Reines Pont-Saint-Martin 2026
March 29, 2026 — Pont-Saint-Martin
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Cow weigh-ins
- From 12:30 PM — Elimination challenges divided into three categories (145 registered cows, 130 competing)
2026 Winners
- First category: Miccia (breeder Joël Follin, Antey-Saint-André)
- Second category: Altesse (breeder Piero Busso, Donnas)
- Third category: Monella (breeder Italo Lazier, Fontainemore)
- Heaviest cow: Calinne, 800 kg (breeder Piero Ottin, Villeneuve)
The top cows from each category qualify for the regional final on October 25, 2026, at Croix-Noire. Full calendar at amisdesreines.it.
Highlights Batailles de Reines Pont-Saint-Martin 2026
Prices Batailles de Reines Pont-Saint-Martin 2026
Practical information — Batailles de Reines Pont-Saint-Martin
Getting Here
Pont-Saint-Martin has an motorway exit (A5) and a train station on the Aosta-Turin line, and is easily accessible from Piedmont and the rest of the Aosta Valley.
When
The 2026 opening elimination round is scheduled for Sunday, March 29th, with weigh-ins in the morning (9-11 AM) and challenges from early afternoon.
Admission
Traditional event with free admission. Full competition calendar at amisdesreines.it.
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Where does it take place — Batailles de Reines Pont-Saint-Martin
Pont-Saint-Martin