When the cows return from the Alpine pastures to the valley, it’s time to celebrate in the Holiday Region Hohe Salve. The Alpine Cattle Drive, that is. Early in the morning the cows and calves are adorned with colourful floral arrangements – this means that summer on the alpine pastures passed off without misfortune. Often the bipeds and their four-legged friends march back home for hours, and while the lush meadows in the valley await the cows as a reward, the herdsmen look forward to the merry hullabaloo, that welcomes them after weeks of solitude in the mountains. Experience this unique traditional Tirolean Festival in the Holiday Region Hohe Salve up close. In September, you have frequent opportunities to see the cows on their drive home. All information about the events revolving around the Alpine Cattle Drive can be found on this page.
When?
27 September 2025
Where?
Hopfgarten, Kelchsau
What?
Tradition & Customs
The Alpine Cattle Drive in Hopfgarten and Kelchsau already starts the day before with a Tirolean evening. This is so to say a warm-up for the good old-fashioned Tyrolean days, with snappy music, the Schuhplattler crew from Hopfgarten and the 'Hopfgoschta Goaßlschnoiza', the upholders of traditional customs. You can find insights from the Tyrolean Evening 2024 on YouTube.
checkLocation: Culture and events centre Salvena, Brixentalerstrasse 41, 6361 Hopfgarten
checkStart: 20:00 hrs
checkAdmission: 15.00 € with Kitzbühel Alps Guest Card | 20.00 € without Kitzbühel Alps Guest Card
checkGroup rate: 12.00 € per person for groups of 20 persons or more
checkThis event was planned according to the criteria of GREEN EVENT TIROL basic.
Reservations also possible on +43 57507 7000 or info@hohe-salve.com.
If you want to experience Tirolean traditions up close, then you should definitely not miss out on this festival in Hopfgarten and Kelchsau. The little village of Kelchsau with its historic centre provides the perfect setting for the farmers’ market on the Alpine Cattle Drive day. Traditional handicraft and Tirolean treats make this day an event worth seeing. It starts in the morning at around 9 o’clock.
The majority of the cows, however, have to continue on from Kelchsau, out of the valley all the way to Hopfgarten and Itter. Hundreds of cattle thus march through Hopfgarten market on their way home and are given a befitting welcome there. At 10 o’clock the music starts playing, the first delicacies of the day - from typical, traditional Tirolean treats all the way to premium brandies - are offered. At the farmers’ market you can stock up on natural food from the region. Craftsmen who have retained their traditional methods gladly pass on their knowledge. The clubs and innkeepers from Hopfgarten are happy about every guest.
On Saturday, 27 September 2024, at around midday, the alpine farmers of Itter will traditionally parade through the village of Itter with their decorated cattle and return to their stables at home. There will be no supporting programme, but food and drink will be provided at the Itter village square/music pavilion.
For the sake of the environment, we ask all visitors to arrive in an environmentally friendly manner! By public transport (bus or train - Hopfgarten Berglift stop), on foot or by bicycle. Bicycle parking is available free of charge directly at the Hopfgarten information office. The Almabtrieb venue in Hopfgarten is barrier-free. If you have any questions, the staff of the Hohe Salve region will be happy to help!
Accessible by public transport
Alpine Cattle Drive and the Tyrolean Evening are of course accessible by bus or train. You can easily take the bus to Kelchsau and even the bus or train to Hopfgarten. The bus stops are right next to the events.
An additional extra: You can use the bus and train connections in the region free of charge with the guest card.
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