Batailles de Reines – Regional Final

A Tradition at the Heart of the Aosta Valley

The Batailles de Reines — literally "battles of the queens" — are much more than a competition: they are the most important traditional event in the Aosta Valley. The protagonists are cows of the Valdostana breed, which by natural instinct, at the beginning of the grazing season, face each other to establish the herd's hierarchy. These are non-violent challenges: the animals confront each other by pushing until one retreats.

From Qualifiers to the Grand Final

The competition unfolds throughout the year with a calendar of qualifiers held in various municipalities of the region. The best cows qualify for the Regional Final at the Croix-Noire arena in Aosta, where the titles of queen are awarded in different weight categories. The overall winner becomes the reine des reines of the year.

Much More Than a Race

The final is a true popular festival: around the arena, food stalls with typical Aosta Valley products come to life, along with music and the gathering of breeder communities, who come from all the valleys — and even from neighboring Switzerland. It is the occasion where alpine peasant civilization proudly displays its identity.

Organization and Roots

The event is organized by the Regional Association Friends of the Batailles de Reines, which manages the competition calendar throughout the Aosta Valley Region. An event that intertwines agriculture, tradition, and tourism, and which every autumn draws thousands of enthusiasts to Aosta.