Where to see the cows come down the alp?
Rebecca is planning a trip to Switzerland in the fall and wants to see the cows returning from the alps. She’s looking for recommendations on where and when to witness this event, known as Alpabzug.
- The Alpabzug occurs in the fall, and its timing varies based on weather conditions, so check local resources for specific dates.
- Look for events in regions like Buochs, Emmeten, and Schwyz, where cows are often brought down early in the season.
- Search for the term 'Alpabzug' online to find more detailed information and specific events.
- If you're traveling extensively, consider getting a Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats across Switzerland.
AI-generated summary-
I am planning a trip to Switzerland in 2016. I am interested in activities centered around the cows returning from the alp? Where do you recommend and when does it happen?
Thanks.
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Hi Rebecca _
<<“cows returning from the alp? Where do you recommend and when does it happen?”>>
The world “alp” should be in the plural…”alps.”
Many places on different days in the Fall.
I’ve seen them above Buochs and Emmeten, in Beckenreid, in Schwyz…..just because I happened to be there on the day that the farmers decided to bring them down. That date is set by the farmers, and varies by geography ( temperature/climate.)
(By the way, some travel by helicopter…)
I’ll see if I can find more specific information …but not for a few days. Have some traveling to do, my self.
I am sure there is a whole lot of stuff on the internet, and if I could remember the German word for the processions, I’d suggest that you search for that term.
Probably, some one else will rescue me. ;-(
Slowpoke.
Slowpoke is right, in most areas it is entirely dependent on the weather. If sleet and snow show up early they bring the cows, goats, and sheep down right away. Otherwise they wait as long as they can so the animals can continue grazing on grasses up high rather than hay down in the valleys.
That said, there are some regions that proclaim dates in advance. See here http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en-us/service-updates/events.html? strubrik=2312
The coming down of the animals is called Alpabzug. Loosely translated it means “pulling away from the Alps”. Most people think Alps means mountain tops. In fact it means hanging meadows where animals can graze.
Thanks for the rescue.
Rebecca –
Once Kim improved my German, I did a Google search on Alpabzug “travelling away from” and also Alpaufzug, “travelling up to or up onto” the alp or alps.
Both produced many hits, both for going up in the Spring or coming down in the Fall.
Get out your map and look at some of those Google hits, such as
search.yahoo.com/yhs/s earch?p=alpabzug+appenzell&e i=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp =yhs-001
I like this map, but there are many…
Thanks for all your help. I very much appreciate it.
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