Regine Valli di Lanzo Exhibition and Competition

The Reines, queens of the herd

In the town of Cafasse, within the Metropolitan City of Turin and at the threshold of the Valli di Lanzo, the Regine Valli di Lanzo Exhibition and Competition celebrates one of the most authentic traditions of Piedmontese alpine farming. The 'Reines' are the Aosta Valley cows that, during the summer ascent to the high pastures and the autumn descent, establish themselves as the leaders of the herd. This day of competition, hosted at Cascina Ressia, pits them against each other in a completely natural challenge.

The Battle of the Queens

The heart of the event is the so-called Battle of the Queens: the cows study each other, scrape the ground with their hooves as a gesture of intimidation, and then engage. It is instinct that guides the clash, not human intervention. It is a fierce but never bloody challenge: no blood is shed, and the defeated cow naturally accepts leaving the field to the stronger rival, who thus becomes the queen of the group. The winners receive a trophy or a cowbell with an ornate collar, a symbol of the primacy achieved.

Categories and proceedings

The cattle are divided into categories: adult females, after calving, are grouped into three weight classes, while younger animals—heifers and calves—are classified by age. The morning is dedicated to weighing and exhibiting the animals, while the actual competitions begin in the early afternoon, concluding with the awards ceremony.

A local rural festival

The Cafasse event represents the first qualifying round of the Regine delle Valli di Lanzo Competition, a circuit that spans various municipalities in the area—including Mezzenile, San Francesco al Campo, and Cantoira, which hosts the final—and takes place throughout the year. The initiative is organized by the J'amis d'le Reines d'le Val ad Lans Association, with the support of the Metropolitan City of Turin, local municipalities, Coldiretti, and agricultural confederations. More than just a competition, it is a popular festival that pays homage to breeders and mountain culture, in a Piedmont that jealously guards its rural roots.