The cattle wear the large cowbells you can see here only on the days when they are driven up and down the mountain and on special occasions. On the day when the cattle leave for summer, the farmers drive them up the mountains to alpine pastures above the tree line. This is a very important day for the farmers; they clean the animals and decorate them with various types of cowbells. When the cows have arrived at their alpine pastures, the large bells are replaced by smaller ones so that the cattle can graze without problems. The various large bells then hang under the roof of the alpine herdsmen's hut for the rest of the summer, or they decorate the farmer's stable, as you can see here. The animals wear bells on the open pastures so that the herdsmen and dairymen can hear them and know where they are at all times.The cattle are usually driven up the mountains in the middle of June. This depends on the weather conditions, which vary every year.
If there was little snow in the previous winter and spring has been lovely, the grass on the alpine pastures grows faster, and the cattle can be driven up earlier than in years when the mountains are covered with snow until May. The alpine summer lasts about 100 days. In this time, a herdsman and his helpers look after the animals given to their charge. They milk the cows, and make butter, cheese and a special type of whey cheese from the milk. They check the pastures and the fences, and treat injured or sick animals. If there are bad injuries, for example when a cow falls and breaks its leg, animals can also be taken down into the valley by helicopter. In September, when the pastures have all been grazed or when the first snow falls, the cattle are driven down and return into their owners' care. The alpine herdsmen decorate the cattle with the large bells, with flowers and small fir trees. Some of them also have a milking stool decorated with flowers tied to their heads. At the end of the alpine season the cheese is weighed and distributed to the different farmers' families. They store and mature the heads of cheese in their houses, and offer the special alpine cheese for sale. Watch out for sale signs on the houses. Now follow the paved road through the village up to the bend, were we are going to tell you more about the history of our village.
