Customs, Folklore & Celebrations, Swiss folk music

Cheese Sharing at Justistal

Spycherberg im Justistal, Sigriswil

Experience a piece of Swiss tradition above Lake Thun

Each year in September the farmers of the Justistal gather together on the day of the cattle drive when the cows descend from the summer mountain pastures. In the idyllic valley above Sigriswil, they divide up and distribute the mountain cheese according to a centuries-old custom. Experience this traditional event with music and catering in a genuine alpine atmosphere.

The "Chästeilet" event in the Justistal is famous well beyond the borders of the canton and has been held on the Spycherberg for almost 300 years. Over the summer the alpine farmers make cheese from the milk of over 250 cows. The cows themselves belong to the farmers from the municipality of Sigriswil. At the end of the summer the cheese is divided up among the farmers according to a centuries-old ritual known as "Chästeilet". After the ceremony the alpine dairy farmers dressed in traditional costume lead the procession of equally impressively adorned cattle back down to Sigriswil.

Date

18.09.2026

Address

Spycherberg im Justistal
3655 Sigriswil

Contact

Sigriswil Tourismus
Feldenstrasse 1
3655 Sigriswil
sigriswil@thunersee.ch
0041 33 251 12 35

Category

  • Alpine live / Alpine Brotherhoods
  • Festivity
  • Historical custom
  • Popular entertaining music

Target groups

  • Open to all

Webcode

www.myfarm.ch/CdMBGp