The désalpe
The day the herds leave the summer pastures and come home to the village
At the end of summer, the cows that have spent the warm season at altitude come back down towards the valley. This is the désalpe, or desarpa in Franco-Provençal. On that day, the herd’s return becomes a festival for the village. The opening photo shows the désalpe from the La Noua alpine pasture.
Dressing up the animals
In the morning, the farmers and their families decorate the cattle. The cows are given garlands of flowers and large bells. These ornaments are not just there for show. They express the farmer’s pride and reward the animals’ yield during the estive, that is, the season spent on the high pastures.
The procession
The herd sets off early, often at daybreak. The herders, some of them in traditional costume, guide the animals along the mountain paths. The bells can be heard from far away. Spectators wait beside the path to watch the procession go by.
In the village
The désalpe marks the end of the summer pasture season. The villages take the opportunity to honour the farmers’ work. Markets are set up. Local produce is sold there, particularly alpine pasture cheese and fontina.
Folk groups sing and dance in the streets. You hear the accordion and the hurdy-gurdy, a stringed instrument in which a wheel is turned with a crank. The festivities often go on into the evening.
What has to be organised
Behind the festival lies a great deal of work. The farmers have to bring the equipment down from the pasture. They prepare the cowsheds in the valley to take in the animals. They also plan the fodder for the whole winter.
Finally, the end of the summer grazing season is the time to take stock of the pastures: the state of the grass, and the maintenance work needed for the following summer.
