Breeds of Aproz and the combats de reines
A village near Sion in the Valais that hosts the national final of the cow fights of the black Hérens breed each spring.
Breeds of this place
Best time: May, for the national final.
The Valais is a long, deep valley in the Swiss Alps, cut by the Rhône. Its native cattle, the Hérens, are short, sturdy and black or dark red, and the cows have a strong instinct to rank themselves within the herd. In the Valais, this is the basis of the combats de reines, contests in which cows push head to head until one gives way. Each May the national final is held at Aproz, near Sion.
The Hérens breed
Hérens cattle are compact mountain animals, muscular and agile on steep ground. They give modest milk and good beef, but are kept above all for their character. Owners raise them for the contests, and a winning queen brings great pride to a family and village. The breed is closely tied to the identity of the Valais.
The contests
Contests are held in spring, before the herds go up to the alpages, and in autumn. The cows are grouped by weight. They lock horns and push, and the one that backs away loses; the last cow standing in each class is crowned queen. On the alpage in summer, the cow that rules the herd is also called its queen.
A trail idea for Aproz and the combats de reines
- Aproz arena Where the national final is held each May.
- Sion The old cantonal capital, with castles on twin hills.
- Val d'Hérens The valley that gave its name to the breed.
- Evolène A mountain village of wooden houses in the Val d'Hérens.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Hérens cattle" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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