La Démontagnée Gourmande
The great festival of the descent from the alpine pastures and gastronomy of Tarentaise
2026
About Démontagnée Gourmande
Démontagnée Gourmande — edition 2026
La Démontagnée returns to Bourg-Saint-Maurice on Saturday, October 17, 2026, following the cancellation of the 2025 event. The organizing committee, the Comité d'Animation, issued a call on August 10 for farmers, tractors, and decorated floats to join the traditional livestock parade. The schedule and full details for the day have not yet been released.
2026 Edition
La Démontagnée will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The date was announced on August 10, 2026, by the Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs town hall, which is sharing the call for participants from the event organizers, the Comité d'Animation.
The 2025 edition, originally scheduled for October 18, was cancelled due to an outbreak of lumpy skin disease and the resulting ban on cattle gatherings, which forced the committee to call it off. The most recent edition took place on October 19, 2024.
For 2026, the Comité d'Animation is seeking new participants for the procession: farmers with their livestock, tractors, decorated floats, and groups or associations focused on agriculture and rural life.
The schedule for October 17, the list of exhibitors, and the entertainment program have not yet been published. In previous years, the exhibitor village opened at 10:00 AM at the bus station parking lot, the parade began at 10:30 AM, and the day concluded with a dance at 8:30 PM. These times are not yet confirmed for 2026.
Highlights Démontagnée Gourmande 2026
- The festival returns on October 17, 2026, following the 2025 cancellation
- Livestock parade through the streets of Bourg-Saint-Maurice
- Call for participants from the Comité d'Animation for farmers, tractors, and decorated floats
Programme Démontagnée Gourmande 2026
The detailed program for Saturday, October 17, 2026, has not been released yet. The organizers have only confirmed that the parade will take place.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Time TBC — Parade through the streets of Bourg-Saint-Maurice: farmers with their livestock, tractors, decorated floats, and groups or associations related to agriculture and rural life.
Prices Démontagnée Gourmande 2026
Practical information — Démontagnée Gourmande
Getting to Bourg-Saint-Maurice
By train
The Bourg-Saint-Maurice SNCF train station is served by direct TGV trains from Paris and Lyon. The exhibitor village and the parade starting point are just a few minutes' walk from the station.
By car
From Albertville, take the N90 towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice (approximately 60 km). Parking is available in the town center, though arriving early is recommended due to high demand.
Traffic during the parade
The procession closes off streets in the town center: rue Antoine Borrel, avenue Maréchal Leclerc, montée de la Gare, avenue du Centenaire, and route de Montrigon. In 2024, these closures were in effect from 10:15 am until the end of the parade.
Typical daily schedule
These times are based on previous editions. The schedule for the 2026 event has not yet been released.
- 10:00 am: Opening of the exhibitor village and food stalls, bus station parking lot
- 10:30 am: Grand livestock parade through the town streets
- Throughout the day: Entertainment, tastings, and forage competitions
- 8:30 pm: Démontagnée dance organized by the Young Farmers, bus station parking lot
Prices
Access to the Démontagnée Gourmande is free. Meals served on-site are paid: €17 in 2021, €18 in 2023. Tastings and product purchases are handled directly with the producers.
Contact
Comité d'Animation de Bourg Saint Maurice, event organizer.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice / Les Arcs Tourist Office
Phone: +33 (0)4 79 07 12 57
Website: www.lesarcs.com
La Démontagnée Gourmande: The Festival of the Alpine Pastures in Bourg-Saint-Maurice
La Démontagnée Gourmande is the emblematic autumn event in Bourg-Saint-Maurice in Haute-Tarentaise. Every year in October, this great popular festival celebrates the 'désalpe', the ancestral moment when herds descend from high mountain pastures to return to valley stables before winter. More than 4,000 people gather in the town streets to experience this moment of communion between farmers, their animals, and the public.
The Herd Parade, Heart of the Tradition
The highlight of the day is the grand herd parade starting at 10:30 AM. Tarine and Abondance breed cows, adorned with their finest bells and cowbells, parade through the streets of Bourg-Saint-Maurice accompanied by their farmers in traditional attire. Goats, sheep, and horses complete this pastoral procession, escorted by musical groups: the local Harmonie, the Alpine Horns, the Rallye des trompes de Poisy, and the Chapladiots. The deep sound of the Alpine horns echoes through the valley, creating a solemn and moving atmosphere.
A Gourmet Village with the Flavors of Tarentaise
From 10 AM, an exhibitor village is set up in the bus station parking lot, offering a panorama of the valley's local products. Visitors discover and taste alpine cheeses — Beaufort, Tomme de Savoie, Reblochon — artisanal cured meats, mountain honeys, jams, Savoy wines and liqueurs, and many other local specialties. Producers, proud of their know-how, passionately share the story of their products and their craft.
The Fodder Competition
A unique event of its kind, the fodder competition is a highlight of La Démontagnée. Hay samples collected throughout the valley are gathered, analyzed, and judged by a panel of experts to award the best fodder of the year. This competition highlights the essential work of mountain farmers and the exceptional quality of the alpine meadows of Tarentaise.
The Démontagnée Ball
The day continues into the evening with the traditional Bal de la Démontagnée, organized by young farmers starting at 8:30 PM in the bus station parking lot. This popular ball concludes the festival in a friendly and festive atmosphere, bringing together locals and visitors to dance to the sound of traditional and modern music.
Where does it take place — Démontagnée Gourmande
Démontagnée Gourmande in brief
History of Démontagnée Gourmande
Edition 2025 Oct 2025Other festivals near Bourg-Saint-Maurice
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