Transhumance in Barousse

The Transhumance in Barousse: Between Living Tradition and Discovery

Each year, at the beginning of June, the Barousse valley reopens its paths to the slow pace of the flocks. The Transhumance in Barousse is much more than a tourist show: it is a still-living agricultural act, perpetuating the ancestral practice of moving sheep to high-altitude pastures to the steady rhythm of their bells.

Two Days to the Rhythm of the Flocks

The event takes place over two days, inviting the public to follow the flocks for over 20 kilometers. On Friday, starting at 5 PM, walkers accompany the animals from Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges for an 11 km walk along the D925 to Mauléon-Barousse, where they arrive around 7 PM. The evening continues around a campfire with a free concert.

On Saturday morning, between 7 AM and 9 AM, the flocks leave Mauléon-Barousse for the pastures. The public can follow a first stage of 8 km through open farmland to the Granges de Crouhens, then an optional second stage of 10 km towards the high-altitude pastures. The gathering happens at the animals' pace, without a precise schedule — punctuality not being the strong suit of our four-legged friends.

Festivities and Conviviality

On Saturday evening, a regional meal is organized in Sacoué starting at 7 PM, hosted by the Folies Bandas. The menu features local specialties: Serrano ham melon, prune-stuffed pork roast, Barousse cheese, and chocolate cake. This moment of sharing between breeders, walkers, and locals concludes a weekend rooted in Pyrenean pastoral life.