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Tradition is not only experienced on the mountain pastures in autumn - but also on your plate. Have you tried these regional delicacies yet?
Harvest festival and cattle drive in Salzburger Land
Before the first snow, the farmers drive their cattle from the mountain pastures back into the warm barn. The past alpine summer and the rich harvest are celebrated: Around 2,000 traditional events take place during the Farmers' Autumn in Salzburger Land.
When is the farmers' autumn in Salzburger Land?
After the alpine summer, more than 75 towns in Salzburger Land celebrate the Harvest Festival. From mid-August to the end of October, you can experience parades, traditional customs and craft demonstrations and be part of the cattle drive when the decorated animals return from the alpine pastures to the valley. Guided themed hikes and cooking courses are also on offer.
The Harvest Festival in Salzburger Land is a time of indulgence: Autumn specialties and game dishes are increasingly found on the menus of the more than 340 Harvest Festival hosts. You shouldn't miss the typical Bauernherst delicacies such as Bauernkrapfen, which are often served at the popular Bauernherbst festivals. At farmers' markets, farmers offer homemade jams, schnapps, syrup, good things from the smokehouse, cheese products, fresh farmhouse bread and other delicacies.
What is a cattle drive?
In early summer, the animals are driven from the farm to the lush alpine pastures in the mountains. During the Salzburger Almsommer, they feast on the lush alpine herbs for around 100 days. In late summer and fall, when the days get colder and the first snowfall is imminent, the animals return to the valley.
The animals are festively decorated with colorful ribbons, bells and mirrors on their way from the alpine pasture to the barn. This is a way of honoring the animals' health and thanking them for an accident-free alpine summer. If there has been a stroke of fate or bereavement, the elaborate decorations are dispensed with or black ribbons are used as mourning florals.
A cattle drive symbolizes the cycle of agriculture and reminds us of the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and the preservation of the Alpine cultural landscape. It has evolved from a purely agriculturally motivated event to an important cultural event that is deeply rooted in the traditions of the people of the Alps. Nowadays, cattle drives in Salzburger Land are often associated with major festivals such as the Bauernherbst events
Where can you find the most beautiful cattle drives and farmers' autumn festivals in Salzburger Land?
With around 2,000 events during the Harvest Festival in Salzburger Land, it's not easy to choose. You can visit these highlight events around our ALPS RESORTS during the fifth season:
Farmers' Autumn Weeks in the Rauris Valley
A big parade, traditional demonstrations, craft stalls, a colorful children's program ...: The Rauriser Bauernherbst will be celebrated with a lavish festival on 14.09.2025. The Schnalzer and Schuhplatter, the Landjugend and Heimatgruppe as well as the Trachtenmusikkapelle Rauris will be there. The best catering (delicious regional delicacies will be served) and entertainment will be provided. ALPS RESORT in the Rauris Valley: Modern vacation apartments in Carpe Solem Rauris, wellness area with panoramic saunas, indoor pool and roof garden.
HeuART Festival in the Lammertal
At the end of August, the HeuART Festival attracts thousands of visitors to Salzburg's Lammertal Valley, culminating in the world's largest parade of hay figures. The artists and associations spend weeks painstakingly crafting a wide variety of figures out of hay, which visitors marvel at during the procession. It takes around 400 hours of work to make one figure! If you can't make it to the HeuART Festival, you can hike along the hay figures trail in Annaberg. Date: 5.9. - 7.9.2025, more information: www.heuart.at. ALPS RESORTS in Lammertal: Holiday homes in Alpendorf Dachstein West in Annaberg-Lungötz or vacation apartments in Hideaway Dachstein West in St. Martin. Both ALPS RESORTS have a pool and saunas.
cattle drive in Radstadt
Every 2 years, the end of the alpine summer is celebrated in Radstadt with a magnificent cattle drive and farmers' autumn festival. The cows are driven from the Tauernkarleitenalm in Untertauern through the center of Radstadt to the Untersulzbergbauern barn. The farm festival takes place there with music, regional delicacies, handicrafts and a large children's play station. Date: 13.9.2025
ALPS RESORT in the Salzburger Sportwelt: The vacation apartments in the Tauernresidence Radstadt (with outdoor pool) are located directly on the cycle path and the golf course.
Farmers' market in Saalbach-Hinterglemm
The legendary farmers' market in Hinterglemm (after more than 40 years, it's fair to say) lasts 3 days. The program includes traditional costume golf, local championships of the Ranggler club, a tractor exhibition, a large children's play area, local exhibitors with their home-made products and music groups. Date: 8.8. - 10.8.2025
ALPS RESORT in Saalbach-Hinterglemm: The JOKER CARD is included in your summer vacation at the Saalbach Suites in Saalbach-Jausern.
The farmers' autumn in Salzburger Land has what it takes to be your favorite time of year. Hiking, eating, celebrating the good life. Are you in?
Tauernresidence Radstadt
Saalbach Suites
Hideaway Dachstein West
Alpendorf Dachstein West
Carpe Solem Rauris ****
Copyright© Heufiguren: TVB Annaberg-Lungötz, Almabtrieb Titelbild: TVB Raurisertal (Florian Bachmeier), Almabtrieb in Radstadt: TVB Radstadt (Lorenz Masser), Hinterglemmer Bauernmarkt: saalbach.com
Verena Junger
Content Manager at ALPS RESORTS
Millennial with a passion for solitary mountains and compelling stories, always on the lookout for exciting destinations and experiences.
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