Transhumanz – Schafabtrieb / Shepherd's Festival (Autumn Return)

The Val Senales Transhumance

The Transhumanz – Schafabtrieb of Val Senales is one of the most fascinating pastoral events in the Alps. Every year in September, thousands of sheep return from the high-altitude pastures of the Ötztal in Austria to the municipality of Senales/Schnals, in the province of Bolzano (South Tyrol). It is the only transhumance in the world that crosses both a glacier and a national border: the flocks travel approximately 44 kilometers over two days, crossing mountain passes at over 3,000 meters in altitude.

The return of the flocks

The autumn return takes place over two distinct days, each with its own celebration. The largest herd arrives at Lago di Vernago/Vernagt am See, with over 2,200 sheep and 300 goats that, after crossing the Giogo Basso and the Similaunhütte, descend along the Val di Tisa to reach the lake shore in the early afternoon. Meanwhile, about 1,500 animals arrive at Maso Corto/Kurzras from the Rofenberg mountain pasture, following a stop at the Bella Vista/Schöne Aussicht Refuge.

The Hirtenfest, the shepherd's festival

The arrival of the flocks is greeted with the Hirtenfest, the traditional shepherd's festival. On the lake shore or in the village, the day comes alive with folk music, alpine horns, and food stalls offering South Tyrolean specialties: Krapfen, cheese tastings, and dairy products from the mountain pastures. A particularly significant moment is the Schofschoad (sheep sorting): the animals are separated based on their colored markings to be returned to their respective owners and original pastures.

A UNESCO tradition

The transhumance between Val Senales and the Ötztal has been inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2019. It represents an ancient, cross-border bond between South Tyrolean and Tyrolean shepherds, passed down through generations, and testifies to a sustainable and millennial management of alpine pastures.

Why attend

• Witness one of the most evocative pastoral rituals in the Alps, recognized by UNESCO
• Admire the arrival of thousands of sheep and goats at Lago di Vernago and Maso Corto
• Taste the gastronomic specialties of Val Senales during the shepherd's festival
• Experience the authentic atmosphere of South Tyrol's rural and cross-border culture