Alpine transhumance

Alpine transhumance is transhumance as practiced in the Alps, that is, a seasonal droving of grazing livestock between the valleys in winter and the high mountain pastures in summer (German Alpwirtschaft, Almwirtschaft from the term for "seasonal mountain pasture", Alp, Alm).

While tourism and industry contribute today much to Alpine economy, seasonal migration to high pastures is still practiced in Bavaria, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France and Switzerland, except in their most frequented tourist centers.

[6] The transhumance system in the Alps has remained virtually unchanged since at least the High Middle Ages, with a document referring to a summer pasture from 1204.

A number of specialized cattle markets grew up in Arona, Bellinzona, Como and Varese in the south and Villeneuve in the west.

[9] While the inhabitants of the Alps had practised transhumance for thousands of years, during the Late Middle Ages it became increasingly important as the population decreased following the Black Death and the wars of this era.

[8] Conflicts over grazing rights and ownership of the alpine meadows led to several wars within what is now Switzerland,[8] including the pivotal Battle of Morgarten (1315), which started due to a long-simmering feud between Schwyz and Einsiedeln Abbey.

Throughout the year, most of the population of the village remained on the valley floor and farmed the surrounding land for grains and hay.

At the end of September the animals were moved back to the lower pastures and cattle were stabled in the following month.

[7] Sheep and goats were stabled in December, unless the winter was mild, then they remained at the middle pastures with the pigs.

Transhumance contributes a great deal to traditional Alpine culture, such as Yodel, Alphorn or Schwingen.

inhabiting the Alpine pastures, either helpful or causing mischief; in particular, this is to punish the cruelty or discourtesy of a bad Senn.

In many cases, the stories tell about curses on specific Alps, appearances of the devil or spirits of earlier Sennen, etc.