Traditions and customs: Viehscheid in the Allgäu
The picturesque Allgäu is a region in which there are many old traditions and customs that are still maintained today. One of the most popular traditional festivals here is the Viehscheid, which is celebrated every autumn when the cattle are brought back into the valley from the alpine meadows. Of course you can also get to know this beautiful custom around Weißensee-Füssen.
Every spring the cattle are brought to the beautiful, lush green mountain meadows in the Allgäu Alps, where they spend the summer. In autumn we return to the valley, where the animals are returned to their owners at the so-called Scheidplatz in the Allgäu communities. This procedure is called Allgäu Viehscheid and is accompanied by festive parades and celebrations with hearty music that delight locals and tourists alike. A special role in the cattle shedding is given to the crown cow, which leads the herds. This receives an elaborately designed headdress to which, among other things, crosses and bells are attached to ward off evil spirits. The tradition of the Viehscheid is becoming more and more popular every year and has now become a real folk festival. Anyone who stays in Füssen-Weißensee in autumn should definitely get to know the Allgäuer Viehscheid.
A very good opportunity to do this is on Saturday at the 12.09.2015 in Schwangau, which is only about 5 kilometers away from Füssen. At around 12:30 Uhr, young animals that have spent the summer on the Alpe Jägerhütte and the Altenberg Alm arrive in Hohenschwangau, where they are welcomed with celebratory music. The herd then moves on to the Schwansee Park, accompanied by locals, tourists and bands, where the animals are handed over to their owners. Afterwards, the celebrations begin at the construction yard at Schwanseepark, which includes hearty music and delicious Allgäu delicacies. A trip to Schwangau to Viehscheid is definitely recommended, especially since there is a lot else to experience in the community. In addition to sights such as the castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, Schwangau also offers attractive excursion destinations such as the Royal Crystal Thermal Baths and the Museum of the Bavarian Kings. A highlight for active people: the Tegelberg with its numerous leisure options.
On Wednesday 16.09. the Viehscheid takes place in the municipality of Nesselwang. At around 10:00 Uhr a herd of around 100 animals arrives at the festival site near the Alpspitzbahn car park. After the cattle have been handed over to their owners, things get merry in a festival tent with Bavarian music. If you want, you can go hiking on the Alpspitz, have fun on a summer toboggan run or even enjoy dinner in a gondola floating high above the ground. Little visitors will love the play paradise with its various attractions.
In the town of Buching, which is part of the municipality of Halblech, the cattle shed takes place at 21.09. ab 09:30 Uhr, together with an autumn festival and the Buching cattle market. The numerous showmen, cattle dealers and locals dressed in traditional costumes create a very special atmosphere in the small town. Thanks to a marquee with brass music and an interesting grocer's market with lots of stalls, a lot of variety and fun is guaranteed here at Viehscheid.
The traditional cattle shedding also takes place in other Allgäuen communities until around the end of September. Here holidaymakers can experience real Bavarian authenticity and get to know one of the region's most popular customs.
