The alpine cattle descent is the best-known of all traditional mountain festivities. After more than four months of grazing in alpine pastures, cows make their way down to the plain.

The alpine cattle descent in Semsales always takes place on the Saturday preceding the first Sunday of October. It's a living and authentic custom, steeped in tradition and rooted in the life of the entire region. On this occasion thundering bells will be hanging from cows' necks and brightly couloured flowers decorate their heads.Farmer, craftsmen, villagers, townspeople and visitors from Switzerland and elsewhere feel in this autumnal period the desire to share and participate together in this festival of mountains and armaillis. That day the whole village is celebrating to welcome them: Alpine horns, bell ringers, craft market and local food stands animate the main street of the village.