Mountains, cheese and cows might be a stereotype of Swiss life, but it is also still a way of life that is celebrated and enjoyed. Come and experience traditional Swiss life at Älplerfest in Lenk in Simmental, Canton Bern.
A celebration of all things alpine, the highlight of Älplerfest, which takes place each year in Lenk in Simmental in the Swiss canton of Bern, is the cow parades. The lovingly decorated cows walk through the streets every hour, and you not only get to admire the beautiful beasts, but vote for the comeliest four-legged resident of Lenk.
In addition to the parades, you can take a stroll through the Buremärit where a wide selection of genuine Lenk products will be for sale. Only the region's tastiest and best-made products get to be sold here.
The day out is great for the whole family, with activities for kids including a petting zoo and a bouncy castle. The flower-decorated cows are also always very popular with children! There are musical interludes throughout the day and a folklore evening once the most beautiful cow has finally been crowned.
If you decide to stay overnight in the charming mountain village, you can take part in a communal, hearty Alpine breakfast the next morning.
The Simmental cow is instantly recognisable as the classic Swiss cow. Reddish brown, with white patches, a little fuzzy head of white hair and dramatic horns, they can be seen in the summer all over the alpine hillsides, cowbells a clanging.
This is far away from industrial-scale farming, and most farmers will have named each one of their herd. The cows are milked twice daily, at about 6.30am and again at 5.30pm, making the days for a cow farmer very long indeed.
The breed is one of the oldest in the world, and has been recorded as far back as the Middle Ages. It is highly prized around the world as both a dairy and beef animal, and the Swiss are understandably proud of the animals.
Lenk has its own train station and is easily reached from Bern by public transport via Zweisimmen. The event is free and no tickets are required, so check out the Älplerfest website for full details of the programme and come on down!
Thumb photo credit: Älplerfest / Livia Bühler