Without any doubt, one of the most wonderful times to be in the sedate town of Geneva is during the Escalade. To commemorate the bravery of the town back in 1602 when it was attacked by Savoyard forces, Geneva holds a weekend of events which celebrates the brave Genevois and allows you to join in. I have written about the…
Lenk im Simmental, Switzerland Since moving to this part of the world, our annual highlight has been to go and see the traditional transhumance festivals. The process of bringing cows down from their summer pastures is almost as old as these hills, and there is great charm in seeing the farmers lead their flower-crowned cows through crowds of cheerful people.…
Shepherd’s Festival, Zermatt, Switzerland Be prepared for cute sheep. Be very prepared. When I first found out that we were coming to live in Switzerland a few years ago, I spent a great deal of time looking at Swiss culture on Pinterest. One of the things that popped up was a picture of a sheep. It looked like a cross…
Aigues Mortes Salt Marsh, Salin d’Aigues Mortes, Aigues Mortes, France Quite honestly, one of the coolest experiences of my travels in the south of France was the visit to the salt marshes near the quaint and perfect walled city of Aigues Mortes. First you have amazing pink waters… and then you have flamingos. Flamingos! In their real environment – not…
In Geneva, 8th December 2018 Having written at some length about the three-day 2017 Escalade celebrations in Geneva, I will not be adding anything except some pictures from the 2018 event (including some from the infrequently opened Arquebus Museum). It really is a wonderful time for the city, full of families and tourists all enjoying the fun atmosphere over the…
In Geneva, Switzerland; 9th/10th December 2017 Let us go back to the year 1602; to the days when Geneva was a wealthy little city-state, getting on with making money and becoming one of the main economic hubs of late Renaissance Europe. Life was good in the Rome of the North – so good it was the cause of envy. One…
Les Charbonnières, Switzerland The last few weeks of September and the first few of October are significant times in Switzerland: it’s time for the désalpe, or the alpabzug. The cows, which have been feasting on the rich grasses and herbs of the mountains during the summer, are brought down to winter pastures back in the village. While some areas just…
In Albeuve, Switzerland One of the most beautiful aspects of the farming life – from the point of view of a townie who doesn’t do any of the work – is the consistency of the traditions by which farmers regulate their year. Transhumance – that is, taking the cows up the mountains to feast on the grasses in summer and…