German herdsmen lead autumn Alpine cattle drive

SUMMARY

Bavarian herdsmen have gathered together in the Alps in for an annual autumn ritual, driving their herds of cattle from high mountain pastures to the valley below in preparation for the cold winter to come. Dressed in traditional lederhosen pants and felted hats garnished with flowers and other adornments, the herdsmen of all ages drove about 700 cattle Wednesday down from their pastures high above the town of Bad Hindelang as tourists watched on. The annual ritual sees the animals, some themselves adorned with wreaths of autumn flowers, brought down from Alpine pastures, between 800 and 1,200 meters (some 2,600 to 4,000 feet) above sea level, to winter in the warmer areas below.

By APSept 13, 2019 8:45:15 AM IST (Updated)

Bavarian herdsmen drive their beasts on a road during the return of the cattle from the summer pastures in the mountains near Bad Hindelang, Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

In autumn, herds fed on alpine pastures in the mountains during summer, are led down to the valley where they spend the winter. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Dressed in traditional lederhosen pants and felted hats garnished with flowers and other adornments, the herdsmen of all ages drove about 700 cattle Wednesday down from their pastures high above the town of Bad Hindelang as tourists watched on. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

The annual ritual sees the animals, some themselves adorned with wreaths of autumn flowers, brought down from Alpine pastures, between 800 and 1,200 meters (some 2,600 to 4,000 feet) above sea level, to winter in the warmer areas below. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

A Bavarian herdsman rests as he drives his beasts on a road during the return of the cattle from the summer pastures in the mountains near Bad Hindelang. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bavarian herdsmen drive their beasts on a road during the return of the cattle from the summer pastures in the mountains. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)