Rendena Cattle – Parade and Surroundings (Caderzone Terme stage)

A festival celebrating the mountains of Val Rendena

The "Rendena Cattle. Parade and… Surroundings" festival is one of the most iconic rural events in Western Trentino. Established to promote the Rendena breed—the only native cattle breed of Trentino—the event takes place over several days at the end of summer, involving the municipalities of Val Rendena—Pinzolo, Caderzone Terme, Preore, Giustino, Bocenago, and Strembo—attracting breeders, cheesemakers, and visitors to the Brenta Dolomites. The event is rooted in a centuries-old tradition, once tied to the Feast of Saint Michael on September 29th, and continues to renew the deep bond between mountain communities and their livestock.

The Caderzone Terme stage: Rendena breed cheeses

In the municipality of Caderzone Terme, in the Province of Trento, the festival reaches one of its highlights with the Rendena Breed Cheese Competition. In the morning, cheeses are evaluated by a panel of ONAF (National Organization of Cheese Tasters) experts, categorized into four groups based on aging (from fresh to products aged over twelve months). Dairies from three regions—Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, and Lombardy—participate, showcasing the prestige achieved by the milk and cheeses of this rustic mountain breed.

Show cooking and tastings at Palazzo Lodron Bertelli

The afternoon unfolds within the walls of Palazzo Lodron Bertelli, a 15th-century historic residence that once belonged to the noble Lodron family and now houses the Alpine Dairy Museum, dedicated to the work of cheesemakers in Val Rendena and the Giudicarie valleys. Here, show cooking takes center stage, featuring dishes prepared with the competing cheeses, alongside a conference and a sensory tasting journey pairing cheeses with local honey and regional products. The event brings together the Val Rendena Beekeepers Association, Slow Food Giudicarie, wine producers, craft breweries, bakers, and the Val Rendena Chestnut Growers Association. The evening concludes with the highly anticipated awards ceremony for the winning cheeses.

An agricultural and cultural heritage to protect

The festival is more than just a gastronomic showcase: it is a way to support mountain farms and protect the Rendena breed from the pressures of intensive livestock farming. With approximately 1,500 head of cattle in Val Rendena alone, most of which spend the summer in alpine pastures, this breed is an integral part of the local landscape and economy. The Caderzone Terme stage, with its historic palace and museum, offers visitors an authentic immersion into the dairy culture and folk traditions of Trentino.

Part of a multi-venue festival

The day in Caderzone Terme is part of a broader program that culminates in Pinzolo with the grand heifer parade, livestock exhibitions, and the crowning of the "Reginetta" (Little Queen), the best heifer selected from dozens of finalists. Visitors to Val Rendena during these days can experience a blend of events ranging from culinary excellence to farming traditions, all set within one of the most stunning areas of the Trentino Dolomites.