Time to Go to Switzerland? For Cows and Leaves?
 

Hello,

I've been to Swizerland many times, mainly in April and May and now want to go in the fall to experience the changing colors of the leaves, maybe even some early snow at the higher elevations and finally to see the farmers bring their cows down for the winter. We love the Lauterbrunenn/Wengen/Murren area. Can anyone let me know when these events would normally happen and over what time period?

I don't know how they determine the dates when the cows will come down - but I was there (Murren) the first week of October and I had already missed it.

Doing an internet search, it looks like this town had it on Sept. 17th:
http://www.aeschi-tourismus.ch/index.asp?page=267

And Gstaad's was on Oct. 1st: http://www.gstaad.ch/en/gs-informati...il.htm?id=2323

For the Wengen area, couldn't find any info. Perhaps Bob_Brown would know? He has some execellent advice on Switzerland; hopefully he will respond (I would like to know also).

I have some photos I can e-mail to anyone who would like to see the color of the trees in Murren/Lauterbrunnen the first week of October. But no cows.

We were in Wengen a few years ago during the third week in September and saw the "cow" show. It really was an interesting event. I don't know if it's done the same week every year. Have a nice trip!!! Mike

The cows come down sometimes in the second week in September, depending on several factors. They are all dressed up in their big bells and headgear, which looks like Christmas trees. There is usually a big production made of it and cows get the main street of Lauterbrunnen.

I suggest you email the Lauterbrunnen tourist office and ask directly. It should be able to give you the exact date for the descend of the cows from the high pastures.

http://www.wengen-muerren.ch/index.p...ang=de&L=1

The above is the web site. Unfortunately even the English hot spot leads to a German form.

Here is now to complete it:
1. Click the circle for Informationsanfrage. (Information question; anfrage = inquiry or question for information.)
2. Put in your last name, comma, first name in the next box entitled
Name, Vorname. (Vorname = first name.)
3. Fill in your address. I think Addresse is self explanatory.
4. Telefon is for your telephone number. I doubt if they will call!!]
5. Fill in the email box with your email address.
6. Skip the stuff about Aufenhalt, that means when will you be there. (von and bis means the dates from and to.)
7. Under Nachricht, type in your message. Nachrich means news or message.
8. At the end, use the drop down box and click on English for your language. I am not sure why they do that, because if your write in English, surely you want your information in English!!

Englisch is the German form of English.
I am sure the good people there will respond. Afterall, the valley lives on tourism, and it is the job of the tourist office to bring in as much business as possible.

Don;t worry about language if you go to Lauterbrunnen. The staff of the Hotel Oberland speaks great English. The two managers are both fluent. The husband is from Australia, and is comprehensible after a while. His wife is easier understand than he is.


The wait staff in the restaurant last year was exceptionally fluent in English. They actually spoke with idiomatic American accents. I finally asked if they were Americans. No, they had been taught that means of pronunciation.

There is a lot of English spoken in Lauterbrunnen, so don't worry. You will have only a few minor problems in communication.

All of the people who sell tickets for the railroads speak at least 3 languages and often more. English, French, Italian, and German are just about basic requirements for the front office staff members.

Second or third week of September sounds right, depending on where you are. I wonder if they even do that in Mürren---they have their Dorffest the first weekend in August, and they decorate the cows for that. They may not repeat it a month later.

As for leaves, I asked at Oeschinensee when the larches turn, and they said early October. So it may not be possible to see both cows and leaves at the same time.

Excuse me, Dumbo, I'd like to post a comment (these darn ads).

You've got excellent advice. Engadin is absolutely beautiful in the fall, too. Take a look at Ingo's threads. Of course, Wallis is also gorgeous, as well.

Appenzell also has some really nice cow "parades". Their decorations can be quite fancy. You never know when the cows will come down because it depends on the weather and grass situation. They like to keep the cows as long as possible in the alps so they can cut hay in the low lands. They can cut up to 4 times (3 is the most common.) I've helped out a few times bringing down the cows. It really is a wonderful thing to do.

September vs. October? Last year, we had the most fantastic October. I've also seen it snow in the mountains during the first week of October, too.
I personally think Switzerland is most beautiful in October when the leaves are changing color. The weather just has to cooperate.

There are Chilbis and cow shows (some held together) during September and beg. of October. Make sure you ask someone in the area you are in if anything is going on. The Chilbis (fairs) are usually held on weekends and Mondays. There is usually live Swiss music and lots of dancing.

Sheep "parades" are very special, too.

Wow, another reason to hope I'll be able to retire from teaching some day (dream on). I would love to see the cows process, and the sheep! And the turning leaves! (Is Dumbo going to fly by EVERYTIME we try to post?) J.

I am planning a trip to Lauterbrunnen from September 10th through the 14th. This thread is a big help. I am so excited I might be able to see the cow ceremony! I e-mailed the tourist office following the instructions above. I'll post it here if they give me an exact date. This will be our 2nd trip to Switzerland and we came back with so many cow pictures that my husband and I were ridiculed by my mother. They're so cute! That little tuft of hair on the head and the big doe eyes are just beautiful.
I have been e-mailing hotels in the area to see if any have bedding with no feathers. We're both horribly allergic. We got several responses but The Hotel Oberland is the only one that seemed interessted in trying to get us to book a room with them. They seem very friendly which might get them a new client.

Hotel Oberland is quite nice; you should be fine there. Do you know the different kinds of cows? Most of the ones in this area are the red-brown and white Simmental breed. My personal favorite is the dark-brown (almost black) cow of the Valais, like this one: http://topspin.smugmug.com/gallery/885501/1/41948955
Above Kandersteg, and elsewhere, I have seen the fawn-brown ones we call "Brown Swiss" in the U.S.; I don't know what the Swiss call them.

enzian - they are called Schweizer Braunvieh(kühe).

Thank you! That means Swiss brown cows?

enzian: yes.

I looked at the link above and it looks like all the cows in Switzerland are cute!