Transhumance: the journey of the sheep through the glacier in Val Senales, South Tyrol

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The tradition of transhumance in Val Senales is 600 years old, but still rooted in the territory and lived by the people. Every year in June, the shepherds cross two passes: from Maso Corto on the Giogo Alto (2,520 m) to the Rofental and from Vernago on the Giogo Basso (3,017 m) to the Niedertal.

The hike also takes 2 days for sheep from Val Venosta: they start a day earlier in Lasa and spend the night at the collection points of Maso Corto and Vernago to bring from three to four thousand sheep. During the traditional transhumance in Val Senales the animals guided by their shepherds also pass through snowfields and gullies.

The tradition of transhumance in Val Senales

After spending the summer grazing the excellent grass and aromatic plants on the high alpine pastures, the sheep in September, return from the Ötztal back to Val Senales and bring back the sheep. The return of the sheep is celebrated every year with a big party, where there is no lack of live music and typical dishes, from delicious Krapfen to tastings of cheese and other dairy products.

The Roter Kofel chairlift brings visitors closer to the passage of sheep during transhumance, giving them the opportunity to observe them closely and to accompany them downstream. Arrived at Maso Corto, guests are welcomed by the festival of the shepherds of the Alpine Rescue of Val Senales with a demonstration exercise, musical entertainment and local specialties.

In the “Slow Food” Weeks of the Val Senales – which are held during transhumance and are dedicated to sustainability, proximity to nature and this particular context – at the center of everything there is the sheep of Val Senales. Rustic, traditional, refined, modern or newly created: there is a culinary experience suitable for every palate. These dishes can be tasted in the restaurants of Val Senales until 24 September.

The tradition handed down from generation to generation promotes biodiversity and represents the close link between man and animal, promoting a project of sustainable agriculture.

A tradition to live in person at least once in your life: the relationship between man and animals, the proximity to nature, the high mountain environment.