This year the blog went to St. Remy en Provence, France on a very special occasion: every year on Pentecost Monday, the Fete de la Transhumance is celebrated on the streets of the town. On this day, by tradition, the sheep are herded from their winter pastures in the lowlands up to the mountains for the summer to the delight of the townspeople. The Transhumance is also celebrated in Switzerland when cows are taken up to the Alps for the summer. These festivals are considered part of the Patrimoine Culturel Immateriel en France, or Intangible Cultural Heritage. It’s also a market day in the town and the crowds of mostly local people spend the rest of their holiday in the restaurants, brasseries, and plazas enjoying the fine spring weather and good meals.

Women in traditional dress head the procession

Next come the donkeys. They are not for show; they graze with the flock and are fierce protectors against wolves in the mountains, much more effective than the small sheepdogs.

The stars of the day arrive led by their shepherds.

It’s a river of sheep. The announcer with the microphone warned the spectators to stay on the sidewalks, and this is why.

The sheep are freshly shorn before the summer. Their wool is soft and highly prized and their milk is made into cheeses whose denominations (certifications of origin) are as closely regulated as wine.