Almabtreib - When the Cows Come Marching Home

In my Lonely Planet book there is an interesting event in October to see - the bringing home of the cows in the alpine regions. Having no luck finding any information about where and when this will be happening I have given up hope of experiencing it, until late Thursday night. I get a reply from a tourism office, it is happening tomorrow at Koenigssee, at 10am. Having no classes I decide to give it a shot - although I have no idea where this place, and where at this place the Almabtreib is happening.

After an horrific early start (up at 6.30am...!) and a long train ride I get to the Koenigssee, near Berchtesgaden - where I am officially in Germany :D There are very few people around, and no indication that anything is happening. The fog is so thick that it is impossible to know there is a beautiful lake surrounded by massive mountains a few metres away.

By 10am a large crowd has magically appeared - all waiting for something...but we are not sure what. The word goes out that this Almabtreib is special because the cows are arriving by boat across the lake...and they are on the way!

Somehow they timing is perfect, and as the fog starts to clear the boat with the cows appears, making its way slowly towards the waiting family and excited crowd.

The cows are taken off the boat one by one, each given a beautiful headpiece made of flowers, paraded around a loop and given to a family member to control.


When all the cows have been done the family and the cows parade through the town..and then take the long walk home along the highway, with no regard for the traffic!

What a fantastic, quirky event! By now the fog has cleared to reveal the wonderful lake and mountains - and the gorgeous day, so I spend the rest of the day hiking.