Almabtrieb and Almfest Mittenwald

A Bavarian Classic

Mittenwald, the famous violin-making town between the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountains, is the setting for one of Bavaria's most beautiful cattle drives (Almabtrieb). When the cattle return to the valley in mid-September after 100 days of summer pasture, it's not just agricultural routine in Mittenwald, but a festive ritual. The market town in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district thrives with its farmers, alpine pastures, and livestock.

Tradition with a Clear Message

The custom has a special symbolism: If all animals have returned safely from the alpine pastures, the cattle are festively decorated – with bells, fir wreaths, artfully wound ribbon decorations, and sometimes fresh flowers. If an animal had an accident, the herd passes through the town without decorations, as a sign of respect. This symbolism makes every cattle drive a statement about the alpine year.

The Procession

The procession starts in the morning from the summer pastures above the town, winds through the historic old town of Mittenwald with its world-famous Lüftlmalerei facades, and ends on the festival meadow at Riedboden. Here, the animals are handed over to the farmers ("verschieden" or "geschieden"), and the cattle return to their farms.

Almfest on Riedboden

Afterwards, the Almfest begins on Riedboden with a brass band, Bavarian folk music, Franconian and Bavarian delicacies, stalls for children, and of course, draft beer. The herdsmen and women who spent the summer in the alpine huts celebrate their return to the valley – an emotional moment for the entire village community.

Cattle Drives of the Alpenwelt Karwendel

The Mittenwald cattle drive is part of a series of events in the "Alpenwelt Karwendel" – the tourism region of Mittenwald-Krün-Wallgau. In late summer, the animals return in stages: goat and sheep drives in Mittenwald on September 5th, sheep drives in mid-September, the big cattle drive (cows) on September 20th, plus farmers' markets and harvest festivals in neighboring towns.

Mittenwald, Violin Making, and Karwendel

Mittenwald is more than just the cattle drive: it's famous for its centuries-old violin making (violin-making school, violin-making museum), for the spectacular Karwendel cable car to the Karwendelgrube, and for the colorful Lüftlmalerei on the house facades. Those who arrive in September can combine the Almfest with a hike in the Karwendel – the mountain air is crisp, the larches turn golden, and the alpine huts are still open.