The Return from the Mountain Pastures is a traditional festival in Annecy that marks the return of the herds from the high-altitude pastures after the summer season, in contrast to the ‘emmontagnée’.
A traditional folk festival
What is the tradition behind the Alpages festival?
At the start of June, the traditional transhumance of dairy cows begins in Haute-Savoie. For around five months, the cows head to high-altitude pastures to graze on fresh grass, producing the delicious Savoyard cheeses, including the famous Reblochon!
Then, in October, after spending the summer in the magnificent high-altitude meadows, the farmers begin their return to the farms. The cows come down from the mountains to spend the winter warm and cosy in the barn. Annecy celebrates this transition every year with the traditional ‘Retour des Alpages’ festival, keeping this unique regional custom alive whilst celebrating the return of the herds.
Highlights to discover at this event
The traditional ‘Retour des Alpages’, also known as the ‘Descente des Alpages’, takes place every year on the second Saturday in October in Annecy town centre. From early afternoon, an impressive parade of farm animals takes place, accompanied by shepherds and folk dance groups. You’ll have the chance to admire a wide variety of animal breeds, including cows (Tarine, Abondance, Montbéliarde), sheep, goats, donkeys and even geese. During the parade, you’ll also have the chance to admire vintage and traditional vehicles, which add a touch of authenticity to the event.
This colourful parade features over 600 animals and begins in the early afternoon. Alongside this, a range of activities showcase traditional trades, with demonstrations and displays of local crafts, including tastings of regional specialities. The atmosphere is lulled by the enchanting melodies of traditional musicians, such as barrel organ players, accordionists and harmonica players, creating an authentic ambience that evokes the flavours of yesteryear.
Savoyard cuisine takes centre stage, with dishes such as diot cooked in white wine, polenta, tartiflette, fondue and platters of cheese and charcuterie. You can sample these culinary specialities at the many food stalls dotted around the town, or by dining in local restaurants, which often offer special menus for the occasion. For the people of Annecy, this celebration marks the arrival of autumn in a festive and convivial atmosphere.
National recognition
In March 2025, the Retour des Alpages was honoured at a national level by being awarded the ‘Les plus belles fêtes de France’ label. This is a wonderful recognition for this iconic event, which showcases the Alpine heritage and the dedication of its many volunteers.
From among some sixty entries from across the country, the jury (comprising industry professionals, journalists and elected representatives) was won over by the festival’s authenticity and its commitment to tradition. This award confirms the unique place of the Retour des Alpages within France’s cultural landscape.
Practical information
Throughout the route through the Old Town, you’ll come across stages featuring folk groups, adding a festive touch to the celebrations.
Every year, a superb poster for the event is put on sale by the Annecy Traditions Association, the festival’s organisers. This celebration attracts an impressive crowd of over 120,000 spectators each year.
If you’re planning to visit Annecy for Le Retour des Alpages, it’s advisable to park outside the city centre and travel on foot, by bike or by public transport. Many tour operators also offer special trips to attend this event, which can make traffic and parking in the town more difficult, given the large numbers of tourists and locals during this period.
The 2026 edition of Le Retour des Alpages
This year, the Retour des Alpages will take place on Saturday 10 October, from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. As usual, visitors will be able to enjoy a parade of animals, musical performances, folk dances, craft activities, tastings of local produce, as well as demonstrations of traditional trades throughout the day.
Previous editions
The 2025 event
On Saturday 11 October, the 2025 Retour des Alpages brought the streets of Annecy’s old town to life. Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the nodular dermatosis outbreak, which meant the cows that usually form the centrepiece of the event were absent, the festival retained all its spirit and proved just as successful as ever.
Throughout the day, visitors and locals were able to watch the parade of animals, discover traditional trades, meet local craftspeople, enjoy performances by folk groups and sample a wide range of local specialities. This year’s event once again celebrated Savoyard traditions.
The 2024 edition
Despite numerous rumours circulating about a possible cancellation due to bluetongue (FCO), the 2024 Retour des Alpages did indeed take place on Saturday 12 October, from 9 am to 6 pm. The only notable absence that year was the sheep, which were kept away as a precautionary measure.
The festival attracted thousands of visitors who had come to see the real stars of the day: the herds coming down from the mountain pastures. In the streets of Annecy’s old town, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with stalls run by local producers and craftspeople, tastings of local produce, demonstrations of traditional skills and musical entertainment throughout the day.
The 2023 edition
The 2023 edition of the Retour des Alpages took place on Saturday 14 October. And this year was special as the event, organised by Annecy Traditions, celebrated its 50th anniversary. This traditional event marking the end of summer was therefore particularly eagerly anticipated.
To mark the 50th anniversary of this iconic event, a special exhibition was organised at the Bonlieu Cultural Centre. This exhibition invited visitors to delve into the history of the ‘Descente des Alpages’ by (re)discovering the iconic posters that have characterised this traditional festival over the years.
The 2022 edition
“Les Alpages, le Retour”: it was under this name that the 2022 edition of the Retour des Alpages made its grand return, after a two-year hiatus due to the health crisis. A return eagerly anticipated by visitors and farmers alike, who were delighted to see the return of this iconic event in Annecy’s calendar.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 people were expected to attend. Onlookers were treated to the sight of some 300 sheep, sheepdogs, horses and around fifty cows parading through the streets of Annecy’s Old Town.
The 2021 and 2020 editions
Due to the Covid-19 health crisis, the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Descente des Alpages were cancelled.
As the event attracts more than 80,000 people from France and abroad, the health regulations in force at the time could not have been complied with.
Although the Descente des Alpages did not take place, a poster was still produced for the occasion. It was designed by Christophe Caterineau.
