Schofschoad - Trafoi Sheep Drive

The Schofschoad: The sheep's return to the valley

The Schofschoad (from the German Schafscheid, meaning "sheep separation") is the traditional transhumance festival held in Trafoi am Ortler, a village in the Municipality of Stilfs (Stelvio), located in the Vinschgau Valley, in the autonomous province of Bolzano/South Tyrol. Every year, towards the end of September, after a summer spent on high-altitude pastures, the sheep are brought back down to the valley: this is the moment when the animals, gathered together, are separated and returned to their individual owners.

An alpine ritual at the foot of the Ortler

The festival takes place in the picturesque setting of Trafoi, a small mountain village nestled at about 1,500 meters, at the entrance to the valley leading up to the famous Stelvio Pass, in the heart of the Stelvio National Park. The imposing glacial walls of the Ortler, the highest peak in South Tyrol, tower in the background. The arrival of the flock, often decorated according to local farming customs, is the most anticipated moment, drawing both locals and visitors into an atmosphere of authentic village celebration.

Tradition and community

The Schofschoad is more than just a practical task in the mountain pastoral economy; it is a true community celebration—an opportunity for farmers, families, and visitors to gather and honor the ancient bond between humans, animals, and the mountains. The day is enlivened by folk music, traditional South Tyrolean culinary specialties, and local products, in a convivial atmosphere that unites the entire village of Trafoi.

Why attend

• Witness an authentic alpine transhumance, one of the oldest agricultural rituals in the Alps.
• Discover Trafoi and the Vinschgau Valley in the heart of the Stelvio National Park.
• Taste the cuisine and typical products of the South Tyrolean farming tradition.
• Experience a day of celebration immersed in the majestic landscape of the Ortler.

A genuine event, far from mass tourism, that offers an intimate look at the pastoral culture and folk traditions of the South Tyrolean mountains.