Name: Viehscheid Gunzesried 2026
Start: 2026-09-17T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-09-17T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Scheidplatz Gunzesried

Viehscheid Gunzesried

About Viehscheid Gunzesried

When the summer pasture on the Alps ends in September, the cattle return ceremoniously to the valley. The Viehscheid in Gunzesried, a district of the municipality of Blaichach in the Oberallgäu, is considered the largest "Scheid" in the region. Around 1,500 animals from 19 alpine pastures are driven in 14 herds to the Scheidplatz, separated from the farmers there, and returned to their owners. Decorated "Kranzkühe" (crowned cows) lead the herds if the summer passed without accident – a moving custom, accompanied by brass music, Scheidwurst, freshly tapped beer, and a market fair.

Dates 17 Sep — 17 Sep 2026

Venue Blaichach (09780)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Viehscheid Gunzesried — edition 2026

The Viehscheid Gunzesried 2026 will take place on Thursday, September 17. 14 herds with around 1,500 animals from 19 alpine pastures are expected at the Scheidplatz at Talstraße 10 in 87544 Blaichach. The first herds arrive from 9 a.m., the festivities begin at 11 a.m. in the tent with brass music, Scheidwurst, and freshly tapped Allgäu beer.

Day's Schedule September 17, 2026

7:30 a.m.: Start of the free shuttle bus Blaichach–Gunzesried; Gunzesried-Ofterschwang mountain railways begin operation
9:00 a.m.: Arrival of the first herds at the Scheidplatz
11:00 a.m.: Festival begins in the tent with the Blaskapelle Bihlerdorf-Ofterschwang
from approx. 12:30 p.m.: Arrival of the last herds, followed by sorting and handover to owners
Afternoon: Krainer Express in the festival tent, market fair with Allgäu specialties
6:00 p.m.: End of shuttle service

Kranzkuh Tradition

Herds whose summer on the alpine pastures passed without accident are led by a Kranzkuh decorated with flowers, ribbons, and bells – a visible sign of gratitude.

Highlights Viehscheid Gunzesried 2026

Largest Viehscheid in the Allgäu: 1,500 animals from 19 alpine pastures
Decorated Kranzkühe as a symbol of an accident-free alpine summer
Authentic rural tradition instead of a folklore spectacle
Original Allgäu Scheidwurst in the festival tent
Free shuttle bus from Blaichach

Programme Viehscheid Gunzesried 2026

Program on the Day of the Scheid

9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Arrival of the 14 herds with around 1,500 animals from 19 alpine pastures
11:00 a.m.: Start of catering in the festival tent
Live Music: Blaskapelle Bihlerdorf-Ofterschwang, later Krainer Express
Market Fair: Allgäu cheese, sweets, crafts, traditional clothing
Specialty: Scheidwurst with freshly tapped beer

Prices Viehscheid Gunzesried 2026

Admission to the Scheidplatz and festival tent is free. Food and drinks are offered at usual festival tent prices (Mass of beer around €9–10, Scheidwurst around €6). The shuttle bus from Blaichach is free.

Practical information

Practical information — Viehscheid Gunzesried

Getting There

Train: to Immenstadt (DB), then take RVA bus 7515 to Blaichach, shuttle from there. Car: A7 exit Waltenhofen, then B19 towards Sonthofen, parking signs in Blaichach. Shuttle: free bus Blaichach–Gunzesried 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Prices

Free admission. Food and market stalls are subject to payment.

Tips

Bring sturdy footwear and warm clothing – it can be cool in the valley in September. Arriving early (before 9 a.m.) is worthwhile to experience the arrival of the first herds.

Tradition from the Allgäu Alps

The Viehscheid in Gunzesried marks the end of the alpine season: after around one hundred days of summer grazing, the animals return from the high alpine pastures to the valley. In Blaichach-Gunzesried, a quiet mountain village in the Oberallgäu district in Bavaria, one of the largest and most atmospheric folk festivals in the region has developed from this. With around 1,500 animals from 19 alpine pastures, the Gunzesrieder Scheid is considered the most extensive of its kind in the Allgäu.

The Course of the Day

From 9 a.m. onwards, the bells of the first herds can be heard as they are led down from the mountains by their herdsmen. The last animals reach the Scheidplatz around 12:30 p.m. At the square, the animals are sorted and assigned to their owners – a highly concentrated process that requires generations of experience. The herds that have survived the summer without accident are led by a decorated Kranzkuh – traditionally adorned with ribbons, bells, and alpine flowers.

Festival Tent, Music, and Market Fair

From 11 a.m., the actual festival begins in the large festival tent. The Blaskapelle Bihlerdorf-Ofterschwang and the Krainer Express provide a lively atmosphere, accompanied by the traditional Scheidwurst – a hearty Bavarian sausage specialty that is an integral part of the Almabtrieb. A market fair with regional specialties, sweets, handicrafts, and Allgäu cheese completes the experience.

Living Tradition, Not a Folklore Spectacle

The Viehscheid is not a tourist spectacle in the Allgäu, but a deeply rooted custom: the herdsmen actually live on the alpine pastures during the summer, taking care of the cattle, and only return to the village for the Scheid. Those who visit the Gunzesrieder Scheid experience an authentic rural tradition that has shaped life in the Bavarian Alps for centuries.

Arrival by Shuttle Bus

Due to the expected number of visitors, the organizers strongly recommend using public transport. A free shuttle bus runs from 7:30 a.m. from Blaichach to Gunzesried.