Traditional Almabtrieb in Tiers am Rosengarten (Transhumance)

A centuries-old Alpine tradition in South Tyrol

The Almabtrieb — the traditional cattle drive — is one of the most cherished autumn events in South Tyrol (Alto Adige). The German term literally means "descent from the alpine pasture": it is the moment when, after the summer season in the high mountains, farmers and herders bring their cows, oxen, and flocks back down to the valley. In Tiers am Rosengarten, a small municipality in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano tucked at the foot of the Catinaccio (Rosengarten) massif and overlooking the Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), this custom is renewed every year in early October.

Adorned livestock: a ritual of gratitude

The heart of the festival is the return of the beautifully decorated herds. When the summer in the pastures has concluded without incident, the animals are adorned with crowns of greenery, pine branches, alpine roses, mirrors, and large cowbells: an ornament that, according to tradition, invokes divine protection and wards off evil spirits. The "lead cow" heads the procession, followed by the rest of the herd, in a ritual of thanksgiving for a successful season.

The day's program

Festivities begin around 11:00 AM on the Platzliner meadow, in the village of San Cipriano (St. Zyprian). Around 1:30 PM, the decorated herds arrive from the pastures, greeted by folk music and entertainment. The celebration continues throughout the afternoon until approximately 6:00 PM, featuring:

• the arrival and parade of the decorated livestock;
• live music and entertainment by local folk groups;
• South Tyrolean culinary specialties, traditional dishes, and local products;
• an atmosphere of an authentic rural village festival.

Between the Dolomites and South Tyrolean culture

Organized by the Bauernjugend (rural youth) and the agricultural associations of Tiers, the event is free to attend and attracts curious visitors, families, and hikers every year. For the visitor, it represents an ideal opportunity to discover the rural identity and the Dolomite landscape of this corner of the Trentino-Alto Adige Region, where German-speaking farming culture coexists with the spectacular backdrop of the Catinaccio, a UNESCO World Heritage site of the Dolomites.