Migration of the sheep in Val Senales
11th and 12th September 2021 Migration of the sheeps from Vent in Austria to Vernago and Maso Corto in Schnalstal.
Possible change of date!
Possible change of date!
The people of the Schnals valley are very attached to their country and to their old traditions and one of the most spectacular of these is the migratory procession of thousands of sheep which takes place twice a year.
For hundrets of years now, flocks of something like 3,700 sheep and 300 goats from the Vinschgau and Schnals valley have climbed up over the 2,857 mt. high Hochjoch and the 3,019 mt. Niederjoch in June to reach the high alpine pastures of the Venter valley in nearby Austria which have been owned by Schnals valley farmers for centuries.
Shepherds, drovers and sheep dogs accompany the animals on their two-day march over 44 km. up to an altidude of some 3,200 metres and then down 1,800 mt. on the other side, crossing numerous snow-fields, rocky outdrops, steep slopes and slippery ice on the Alpenhauptkamm.
12th and 13th September 2020 sees a repeat of this same journey in the opposite direction and, usually, under better weather conditions and along paths which are not so dangerous at that time of year.
Saturday at Vernagt
Up to 2,200 sheep an 200 goats cross the Niederjoch to arrive at Vernagt at 2p.m. No traditional shepherd festival.
Sunday at Kurzras
The flocks begin their journey home over the Hochjoch to Kurzras where about 1,500 sheep usually arrive between 3p.m. an 4p.m. No traditional Shepherds'Festival this year.
In the event of bad weather short-term schedule changes are possible!
For hundrets of years now, flocks of something like 3,700 sheep and 300 goats from the Vinschgau and Schnals valley have climbed up over the 2,857 mt. high Hochjoch and the 3,019 mt. Niederjoch in June to reach the high alpine pastures of the Venter valley in nearby Austria which have been owned by Schnals valley farmers for centuries.
Shepherds, drovers and sheep dogs accompany the animals on their two-day march over 44 km. up to an altidude of some 3,200 metres and then down 1,800 mt. on the other side, crossing numerous snow-fields, rocky outdrops, steep slopes and slippery ice on the Alpenhauptkamm.
12th and 13th September 2020 sees a repeat of this same journey in the opposite direction and, usually, under better weather conditions and along paths which are not so dangerous at that time of year.
Saturday at Vernagt
Up to 2,200 sheep an 200 goats cross the Niederjoch to arrive at Vernagt at 2p.m. No traditional shepherd festival.
Sunday at Kurzras
The flocks begin their journey home over the Hochjoch to Kurzras where about 1,500 sheep usually arrive between 3p.m. an 4p.m. No traditional Shepherds'Festival this year.
In the event of bad weather short-term schedule changes are possible!
