Transhumance Festival 2011

‘Celebrate spring to the sound of bells’ and join Lot’s Transhumance Festival.

Although the term ‘transhumance’ is not the most commonly used word in the English dictionary, for people living in rural regions in countries such as Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and France, ‘transhumance’ is a much more widely used expression.

Its meaning is still widely practised. Transhumance is essentially the movement of people with their livestock each year to areas close by to lower valleys in the winter and higher pastures in the summer.

In the Lot region of southern France, transhumance is a vibrant component of the local farming culture.

Held in celebration of the practise’s longevity and tradition, Transhumance festivals take place during the last two weekends of May in the towns of Cantal, Lozere and Averyon.

As the farmers and shepherds embark on their journey to find their herds of livestock higher pastures to live and graze on during the warm summer months, locals and visitors begin the festival celebrations, as a mark of respect and celebration of an integral part of the pastoral calendar.

On the 22 and 23 May 2011, the Transhumance festival will take place in the picture-perfect pastoral and verdant village of Saint-Geniez, situated on the banks of the Lot River.

As well as music, dancing, games, and delicious cuisine served throughout the weekends, the Transhumance Festival’s includes milking decorations, markets selling local produce, herd decorations, as locals and visitors alike celebrate to the sound of the bells gently jiggling around the necks of the herds of Aubrac cattle.

On the same weekend, similar celebrations will take place in the equally as picturesque village of Nasbinals, which being located at 1,200 metres in the heart of Aubrec, offers truly sensational views of this particularly beautiful region of southern France.

Nasbinal with its tiny chapels, characterful and quaint buildings built from granite and basalt stone and weathered from the harsh climatic elements this hillside village is exposed to, and being surrounded by verdurous mountains and valleys, is, not only the perfect place to hold a festival devoted to an ancient pastoral tradition, but also a utopic location to feature ancient pilgrim trials and go for some stunning bike rides and walks.

In fact, if you have decided to you want to celebrate spring traditionally and in one of the most scenic places in France, the most difficult decision you will be faced with on the weekend of the 22 and 23 of May, will be whether to visit Saint-Geniez or Nasbinals to experience the transhumance Festival.

Or perhaps you could get the best of both worlds, and spend one day in one village and the next day in the other!