Descent from the mountain pastures: tradition and cultural initiatives

The end of the summer season is marked in the Aosta Valley by a traditional event deeply felt by the local population: the desarpa. After a long summer on the high mountain pastures, at the foot of the highest peaks in Europe, the cows return to their stables at the bottom of the valley.

Desalpage day traditionally coincides with Saint Michael's Day where each year, on September 29, the transhumance of cattle is an important event in the lives of breeders, but it is also a day of celebration and sharing with the entire population. .

The descent from the mountain pastures is celebrated in different places in the Aosta Valley, including Valtournenche, in the Matterhorn valley, or in Cogne, in the Gran Paradiso region, where it is called "Devétéya".