Pfad der Pioniere 10: Hangnomaden

Until the 19th century, most farming families lived at different altitudes. They moved with their livestock and household to where nature had the most to offer. You can clearly see the three elevations of post 10 with a view of the opposite slope to Alvaneu-Dorf: opposite is the village, further up towards the tree line, the Maiensäss and at the top, above the tree line, the alp.

In the spring, the families lived and worked with their cattle in the village. At the beginning of May, they drove the cattle to the Maiensäss. After the meadows and pastures had been grazed, the alpine procession took place at the end of June. The families formed alpine societies and elected an alpine bailiff.  The organised cultivation of the alpine pastures and cheese production relieved the families so that they could pursue other work, such as haying valley meadows and harvesting crops. 

In mid-September, the cattle were brought back to the Maiensäss and then down into the valley. After the autumn grazing, a family member moved with the cattle back to the Maiensäss to feed the hay obtained in August.