Festival of the Transhumance and Clairette
The great pastoral and wine festival of Diois, between flocks and Clairette de Die
About Festival of the Transhumance
The transhumance: a millennial tradition celebrated in Diois
Each year in June, flocks of sheep leave the plains of Diois to reach the Vercors pastures and the high plateaus. This seasonal movement, the transhumance, is an ancestral pastoral practice inscribed on the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. The Festival of the Transhumance and Clairette has been celebrating this key moment in the agricultural life of Diois since 1991.
A festival born from one man's passion
The first edition took place in 1991, at the initiative of the Drailles association and its legendary president André Pitte. Its success has never wavered since. The event has become a must-see on the Diois calendar, attracting thousands of visitors each year to witness the passage of the flocks and discover the pastoral and wine-growing traditions of the region.
A program between pastures and vineyards
The festival unfolds over several days and in several locations. On Saturday, in Châtillon-en-Diois, a medieval village listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, a festive day welcomes the passage of the flock in the morning and late afternoon. On Sunday, visitors can find the flock on the Moutière pasture. A third day at the Col de Rousset, the gateway to the Vercors Hauts Plateaux Nature Reserve, completes the program.
Clairette de Die in the spotlight
The festival also highlights the wine heritage of Diois. Visitors can taste and discover the appellations AOC Clairette de Die, Châtillon-en-Diois, Crémant de Die, and Coteaux de Die. Local winemakers and producers offer tastings and share their expertise on these unique sparkling wines, made using the ancestral method.
Workshops, meetings, and know-how
The Festival of the Transhumance offers a rich program of workshops on wool: shearing, spinning, and weaving demonstrations. Conferences, exhibitions, and meetings with breeders and artisans provide a better understanding of the challenges of pastoralism and mountain agriculture. Children are not forgotten, with dedicated activities. Admission is free.
Festival of the Transhumance — edition 2026
The 2026 Transhumance and Clairette Festival unfolds over three key moments in June: Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th in Châtillon-en-Diois, Wednesday, June 17th in Die with the concert « Le Souffle du Berger », then Sunday, June 21st at Col de Rousset. As 2026 is the International Year of Pastoralism, this edition particularly highlights the shepherds, breeders, and pastoral know-how of the Diois and Vercors regions.
2026 Edition — under the sign of Pastoralism
The 2026 edition of the Transhumance and Clairette Festival is part of the International Year of Pastoralism. An additional opportunity to celebrate those who keep alive the pastoral know-how of the Diois and the high plateaus of the Vercors.
Three times, three atmospheres
The festival starts on Friday, June 5th by the river in Châtillon-en-Diois with « Chill & contes au fil de l'eau »: local legends, storytelling, concerts, open-air film screening, and barbecues in an exceptional natural setting near the Menglon bridge (RD69).
On Saturday, June 6th, the medieval village of Châtillon-en-Diois (one of France's Most Beautiful Villages) lives to the rhythm of the herd's crossing, sheepdog demonstrations, wool workshops, guided walks in the vineyards, and the winemakers' village offering tastings and original oenological activities.
On Wednesday, June 17th at 6:30 PM, the concert « Le Souffle du Berger » brings together an internationally renowned orchestra around pastoral music — classical and popular music, traditional songs, regional languages, bagpipes, zampogna, cowbells.
On Sunday, June 21st at Col de Rousset, the arrival of the herds in the alpine pastures is celebrated with shearing demonstrations, wool and natural dye workshops, presentations on protection dogs, sheepdog work, and tasting pairings between Diois wines and Vercors cheeses.
Good to know
Admission to the festival is free (a Clairette pass at €6 on Saturday in Châtillon gives access to all wine activities). Dogs are prohibited throughout the site to protect the herds. Apart from Sunday morning at Col de Rousset (by reservation only), it is not possible to follow the herds during their movements.
Programme Festival of the Transhumance 2026
Friday, June 5th, 2026 — Châtillon-en-Diois (riverside, Menglon bridge RD69)
« Chill & contes au fil de l'eau » — from 6 PM to 11 PM
- Staging of local legends in an exceptional natural setting
- Concerts
- Storytelling readings
- Open-air film screening
- Barbecues and on-site catering
Saturday, June 6th, 2026 — Châtillon-en-Diois
From 9:30 AM to 11 PM — pastoral and wine day
- Herd crossing through the village (towards late morning)
- Winemakers' village: tastings and meetings around AOC Clairette de Die, Châtillon-en-Diois, Crémant de Die, and Coteaux de Die
- Sheepdog demonstrations
- Wool workshops (shearing, spinning, weaving, felting)
- Guided walks in the vineyards
- Original oenological activities
- Conferences and exhibitions on pastoralism
- Local producers' markets
- Activities for children
Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 — Die
- 6:30 PM — Concert « Le Souffle du Berger »: internationally renowned orchestra, a sound journey into the heart of pastoral music (classical and popular music, traditional songs in regional languages, bagpipes, zampogna, cowbells, bells)
Sunday, June 21st, 2026 — Col de Rousset (26420)
From 9 AM to 6 PM — arrival of herds in the alpine pastures
- Morning: walk for the arrival of herds in the alpine pastures (by reservation only)
- Shearing demonstrations
- Wool and natural dye workshops
- Presentations on livestock guardian dogs (patous)
- Sheepdog work demonstrations
- Tastings of Clairette de Die and other Diois wines
- Food and wine pairings: Diois wines and Vercors cheeses
Highlights Festival of the Transhumance 2026
- 2026 edition placed under the sign of the International Year of Pastoralism
- Herd crossing through the medieval village of Châtillon-en-Diois (Saturday, June 6th)
- Concert « Le Souffle du Berger » with an international orchestra (Wednesday, June 17th, 6:30 PM)
- Arrival of herds in the alpine pastures at Col de Rousset (Sunday, June 21st)
- Tastings of AOC Clairette de Die, Crémant de Die, Coteaux de Die, and Châtillon-en-Diois
- Wool, shearing, natural dye workshops, and sheepdog demonstrations
- Free admission to the entire site
Prices Festival of the Transhumance 2026
Practical information — Festival of the Transhumance
Access
The festival takes place mainly in Châtillon-en-Diois (26410), accessible via the D93 from Die.
- By car: From Valence (80 km), take the D93 towards Die, then Châtillon-en-Diois. From Grenoble, follow the Col de Grimone or the Col de la Croix-Haute.
- Parking: Signposted parking lots on the outskirts of Châtillon-en-Diois. Shuttles may be available on festival days.
Hours
On Saturday in Châtillon-en-Diois: flock passage around 9 am, festivities all day, another passage around 5:30 pm. On Sunday at the Moutière pasture: from 10 am to 3 pm.
Prices
Free admission.
Contact
- Website: www.fete-transhumance.com
- Phone: 04 75 22 03 03
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Where does it take place — Festival of the Transhumance
Châtillon-en-Diois, alpage de la Moutière et Col de Rousset
Champs de Foire, 26410 Châtillon-en-Diois, 26150 Die