Cow Parade in Schüpfheim, a Favourite Swiss Tradition

Saturday September 28, 2024 -- We entertained our California friends for three days during their yearly visit to Europe, where they always grace us with a visit and hope we can show them some new fun experiences in our country...

Back in September 2017, almost to the day (see photos HERE), we took them to Canton Glarus to experience one of Switzerland's coolest traditions: An Alpine Cow Descent, a beloved event where mountain farmers descend from their higher elevation summer farms and bring their cows down to valley bottom farms. This event consists of decorating the cows (and goats) with flowers and wide bell bands, and walking them about 10-15 kilometers down mountain roads in a sort of parade. The members of the farming families are dressed in local traditional costumes, and even the children, right down to the babies, take part in the procession. When the parades arrive at the goal villages, there are additionally alphorn players, yodeling groups, traditional dance groups that join the parade. Then there are usually market stands and beer and sausages and schnapps coffee to warm up. These events take place all over the country between middle of September and early October and are a lot of fun. 

Having thoroughly enjoyed this experience, our friends requested to see another one, so we arranged to visit one of the most popular Cow Descents in Central Switzerland, in Schüpfheim in the UNESCO Heritage Site of Entlebuch. It was such a shame that the day was cold, overcast and rainy, but thousands of spectators showed up anyway. (The commentators claimed 10,000 in attendance). I'm sure it wasn't so fun for the farmers, but most of them came into town with big smiles anyway.

When all seven families with their cows had made it from the surrounding valleys into the town of Schüpfheim we headed off to the train station for the short trip to the Kambly Cookie factory for coffee and cookie tasting.... which was a real hit, as nowhere else can you taste so many different kinds of cookies for free!

While waiting for the first of the seven families to arrive with their cows, the parade started with some local folklore groups at 10:45. The first wagon was a brass band. 

After the brass band, the local children's folklore dance group walked past, and stopped along the way to demonstrate some dances

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The children's Folklore Dance Club performed along the way

What's a cow parade without the alphorns?

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A little bit of Alphorn Music

(The commentator was way too loud in the background)

Shortly after 11 a.m. we heard the first cowbells from afar, and the first family arrived at the outskirts of Schüpfheim at 11:15. 

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First family arriving in Schüpfheim

All the equipment is coming through as well!

The family from the Alp Aebnistetten farm (from the valley just over the hill to the south of here) even came along with their children and a baby in a wagon! (The two photos with the wagon were taken by Carrie). 

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The Cheiler Family from Alp Aebnisstetten came through Schüpfheim from the opposite direction, then turned around and passed by again!

This family is from a farm called Alp Schlacht, which is actually near Sörenberg up the main side valley, a 20-km walk from here! Everyone was smiling, even with the rain and bad weather!

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There were some difficulties withe the goats!

Some very pretty goats with their sunflower belts!

Lots of sunflowers!

The covered tents were a great place to get out of the rain and have something to drink! 

There were several market stands along the road, selling handmade wooden products and cow bells. 

This family is from Alp Farneren, just on the other side of the mountain here, from the valley where we had walked through in August of this year (Photos HERE). They would have walked about 10 kilometers. 

Family from Alp Farneren.

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Family from Alp Farneren

We were headed up to the town's church when the final family made it through the town, so this one we watched and photographed from higher up!

Final family coming through town, so the event is pretty well finished. 

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Standing on the church stairs,

watching the last family walk their cows through the town

We then went into the church to have a look. This is a typical Baroque church like so many that we look at. Lovely organs, several side altars, ceiling paintings. 

After visiting the church, we were going to head to the train station, but couldn't get down the stairs any more (They were doing some final speeches, or maybe some yodeling...). We had to find a detour to get back down to the main road!

Final look at the church in Schüpfheim before we headed to the train station shortly after 1 p.m. to travel to the Kambly Cookie factory to eat free cookies!

It was only a 15-minute train ride from Schüpfheim to the Kambly Cookie Factory in Trubschachen. At the shop part of the factory, you can taste as many of the cookies as you like, for free! Even Carrie, who eats very little sugar, was tempted to try! Coffee isn't free though. And you cannot take any of the free cookies to the café part of the shop. It was a real hit, though, and a good way to end the very rainy day. And everytime we come here, Urs always buys three bags of his favourite cookies. (The cookies are "second rate" cookies sold in bulk bags, as opposed to the ones that are sold in shops). 

A coffee and some free cookies at the Kambly cookie shop was a nice way to end the rainy, cold day. (The picture of me on the bottom right was on a separate trip we did earlier in the summer).