Schwarzsee Alpabzug

At the foot of the Kaiseregg peak, the lakeside Fribourg village of Schwarzsee marks the end of summer grazing each September with its own Alpabzug, the German-language name for the same cattle-descent custom celebrated as Desalpe in nearby French-speaking Gruyere villages. Cattle decorated with flower headdresses and large bells come down from the high pastures, led by herders through the village. Market stalls, alphorn music and the lake's own summer-destination appeal round out a quieter, more local version of the tradition.

In the German-speaking part of Fribourg canton, the lakeside alpine village of Schwarzsee marks the end of summer grazing with its own Alpabzug, the same cattle-descent tradition celebrated under the French name Desalpe in nearby Gruyere communities, but carried out here on a smaller, more locally paced scale.