Alpine cattle drive in Ötztal

Bells echo through the streets as decorated cows make their way down into the valley: every September, a centuries-old tradition comes to life in Ötztal.

You’re standing at the roadside in Zwieselstein, just a few kilometres from our mountaineering village of Vent. In the distance, you hear a low, rhythmic ringing. Then they appear – the first cows, adorned with floral wreaths, ribbons, and elaborate crowns of herbs and mountain pine. The lead cow, the “Kranzkuh”, strides proudly at the front, her headdress gleaming in the September sun. The Alpine summer was a good one; every animal is returning home safe and sound. And that’s exactly what’s being celebrated today.

Every September, Zwieselstein near Sölden celebrates the traditional Almabtrieb – the ceremonial cattle drive down from the Alpine pastures. Here you’ll experience age-old tradition at its finest: the brass band strikes up for the traditional Frühschoppen (a convivial morning of music and drinks), the farmers market offers Ötztal cheese and local specialities, and the scent of fresh baking mingles with the crisp autumn air. When the decorated cattle arrive around midday, faces light up all along the route. It’s a moment that stays with you.

For generations, the cattle drive has been part of the rhythm of life in the valley. All summer, the cows graze on the high Alpine pastures, nourished by mountain herbs and fresh grass. Their safe return is never a given, which is why the farmers decorate them so lovingly, as an expression of gratitude for a good Alpine summer.

Just a few days later, there is another remarkable event: the sheep drive across the main Alpine ridge. Thousands of sheep return from their summer pastures near Vent, crossing high mountain passes into Schnalstal in South Tyrol – a migration that goes back thousands of years, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. September in Ötztal is a time of history.

After an eventful day, the Natur- & Alpinhotel Post provides exactly the warm welcome you need. In the Saunadörfl, our sauna village, you’ll feel the day’s tension melt away; at dinner, you round off the day with regional delicacies – and the feeling that you’ve witnessed something truly special.