The foothills of the mountains

Every summer, thousands of sheep, goats, cows and horses are taken to the higher pastures in the mountains - led by the bergers and bergères (shepherds) and drovers. This is the Transhumance which has taken place for centuries using established, traditional routes.

Originally the families would lead and drive their animals many miles on foot, taking several days with overnight stops. These days the animals arrive in lorries at little villages in the foothills of the mountains, and then they are walked up the steep paths to the summer grass.

It has always been a celebration, but is now a real spectacle with many of the old traditions, like clog dancing still taking place, and some strange events whose origins are lost in the mists of time.

These videos and photographs were taken in June 2023 at Seix in the Pyrenees.

Robert, Cathy, Mark & Linda

The arrival of some of the sheep

A very weird ceremony!

... same again!

... and again

The 'majorettes'

Cows with clanging bells

Clog dancers

'Majorettes' on parade

Very noisy drummers from Barcelona (only just the Spanish side of 

the Pyrenees). 

One of the bands with the drummers

Traditional majorettes

Extremely handsome horses

There's always one...

Traditional dancers

A typical old gent 

More sheep

That weird event again

A 'Banda'.  Bandas are found in all the villages - anyone who

can play any instrument joins in