Festive alpine summer closing!

Cattle drives at Lake Achensee

Autumn is a spectacular time at Lake Achensee, as thin clouds drift across the deep blue sky and the woodlands burst with colour. It's also the time for the annual alpine cattle drives, when the festive return of the cows from the summer pastures is celebrated with much festivity in the villages.

Days of work go into preparing the elaborate headdresses, made with flowers, ribbons, and pictures of saints. Beautifully adorned and with bells attached to their collars to ward off demons, the cows are herded home from the mountains. Curious onlookers and locals in their festive dirndls and lederhosen line the streets, ready to capture these special moments. The parades are celebrated in the villages with lively folk music and tasty regional specialties.

A centuries-old Tirolean tradition, the cattle drives celebrate and honour the cows' safe return from summer pastures between September and October.