Roitschäggättä
Wild figures clad in shaggy fur and enormous hand-carved wooden masks erupt through the high Alpine villages of the Lötschental from Candlemas onward, representing one of Switzerland's most archaic and visually striking pre-Lenten winter-driving customs.
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"Each summer the perfectly preserved 16th-century alpine village of Ernen (population ~500) hosts a world-class classical, baroque and jazz festival in its historic Kirche St. Georg, drawing virtuosos including Sir András Schiff to one of the smallest concert halls in Switzerland."
Festival Musikdorf Ernen
"Switzerland's densest wine village, with up to 20 cellars for just 1,700 inhabitants, marks the harvest with a ticketed 7 km gastronomic walk through the vineyards calling at more than ten cellar stops, finishing with a communal gathering in the village's picturesque courtyard."
Automne du Vin Salgesch
"Eringer cows descend from the Belalp under flower headdresses to the valley station in Blatten, where a market, traditional music and the coronation of the Belalp Alpine Queen round out this classic Valaisan cattle festival."
Alpabfahrt Blatten-Belalp
"Eringer cows descend from the Alp Moiry through the cobbled lanes of Grimentz, a beautifully preserved Valaisan village at 1,570 m in the Val d'Anniviers, with cheese stands and local food filling the festival square."
Désalpe de Grimentz
"The second edition of this mountain gastronomy festival brings Michelin-starred chefs together with Valaisan producers for three evenings of alpine-cuisine dinners and a weekend flavour market on the cobbled streets of Grimentz."
Epicurialpes
"The 17th edition of this intimate classical music festival unfolds across the church of Grimentz and the spectacular Barrage de Moiry dam, mixing master classes with open-air concerts in the heart of the Val d'Anniviers."
FestiVal d'Anniviers
"Every September since 2015, up to eight Simmental farming families lead flower-crowned herds through Gstaad's promenade every 30 minutes from 9:30 am, accompanied by Trychler cowbell clubs, yodellers, and a farmers' market of Saanenland specialities."
Gstaad Züglete
"Each September Saturday, herds from a different one of Mels's 26 alp farms descend into the village in full floral regalia, with market stalls selling alp and farm produce at the historic village square."
Alpabfahrten Mels
"The very first Federal Youth Yodelling Festival in Swiss history brings over 1,000 young yodellers, alphorn blowers and flag-wavers to the iconic mountain village of Grindelwald for three days of competitive performances and open-air folk tradition."
Eidgenössisches Jugendjodelfest 2026
"Around 600 festively decorated animals descend from five Brigels alps to the Plaun Rueun meadow in this Romansh-named cattle descent, the largest single-gathering Alpabzug in the Surselva."
Scargada - Alpabzug in Brigels
"The Hinterfeld Alpine Cooperative's 100 decorated cows descend to the Uri village of Wassen for a full day of alphorn music, open-air cheese dairy, craft market and folk dancing below the famous triple-spired church."
Alpabzug Wassen
"Farmers from the Neuenalp and neighbouring alps lead fully decorated herds of cows and goats through Appenzell's Hauptgasse in an unscripted working tradition that has shaped the village calendar for generations."
Alpabfahrt Appenzell