Editorial photo #11754030 Human Interest
Yearly Goat Down Drive In Mittenwald: A Vibrant Slice Of Bavarian Culture. Bavaria Is One Of The Top Travel Destinations In Lonely Planet 2025
Shepherds in traditional dress drive their goats from their summer pastures around the mountain Kranzberg down to the village of Mittenwald in Germany on August 31, 2024. This yearly Goat Down Drive in Mittenwald is a vibrant slice of Bavarian culture. Bavaria is one of the top travel destinations in Lonely Planet 2025. In the picturesque Bavarian village of Mittenwald, nestled in the Isar Valley at the foothills of the Alps near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the yearly traditional goat drive is underway. Dressed in traditional attire, goat herders guide a herd of over 200 goats from around 20 owners down from their summer pastures around mountain Kranzberg to the village. The annual ritual, marking the arrival of the first frost in the mountains, sees these goats paraded through the streets to Dekan-Karl-Square. The most beautiful goats receive prizes from a jury after the goat drive. The scene captures a vibrant slice of Bavarian culture. In Mittenwald, the alpine summers are organized on a cooperative basis. The season starts in May on the lower pastures. In July, the goats climb to the highest point at Ferchensee at 1050 meters. They take turns with the herding duties there until the cattle are driven down at the end of August. Located around 80 kilometers south of Munich between the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountains and right on the border with Austria, Mittenwald is known for its colorfully painted houses and its violin-making history, which is illustrated in the centrally located violin-making museum. The town is Germany's highest climatic health resort. The Mittenwald Karwendelbahn is the second highest aerial cableway in Germany. In the picturesque Bavarian village of Mittenwald, nestled in the Isar Valley at the foothills of the Alps near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the yearly traditional goat drive is underway. Dressed in traditional attire, goat herders guide a herd of over 200 goats from around 20 owners down from their summer pastures around the mountain.
