Transhumance
Location and contact
To find out more
"Transhumance, the seasonal droving of livestock", is part of a transnational candidacy that, since 2023, has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The other countries are Albania, Austria, Croatia, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and Romania.
From ancient times, until the middle of the last century, agriculture and livestock farming were the main economic activities in Andorra and, consequently, in the whole of the Pyrenees mountain range.
Nowadays, farmers and shepherds (men and women) continue to organise the droving of animals in spring and autumn, following traditional grazing routines which, whenever possible, are carried out on foot along ancestral livestock paths or passes. They graze in summer on mountain pastures (vertical transhumance) and in winter on the plains (horizontal transhumance).
This activity has left a cultural legacy in Andorra that is both material, in the form of both architectural (country houses, shepherd's huts, cheese dairies, dry-stone paths, etc.) and landscape heritage (high pastures, mowing meadows, terraces, etc.) that still survives today. As well as an intangible legacy linked to agricultural and livestock production, which continues to be passed down from generation to generation.
The transhumance route through the Incles Valley lets you discover this legacy first-hand and you will also be able to see cattle grazing at altitude. More information by clicking on this link.
Respectful tourism
As hikers, citizens and consumers, we can easily help to conserve this common good, a wise blend of centuries-old traditions and fragile cultural and natural heritage, by following these simple tips:
- Respect the rights of way and uses of these territories when we cross them.
- Enjoy the gastronomy of local products prepared by the transhumance community.
- Show support to local farmers who work day after day to preserve a territory of high environmental value for everyone.
UNESCO inscription
Inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage reinforces acknowledgement of this traditional practice that favours sustainable development, promotes animal welfare and the production of local products, while helping to protect natural resources, preserving the biodiversity of mountain ecosystems and mitigating the risks associated with climate change.
Livestock transhumance is currently facing new challenges with the return of predatory animal species that are protected, especially bears and wolves, which can harm the livestock sector.
New legal mechanisms are therefore being implemented to recognise its general interest to ensure the continuity of a dynamic livestock sector, the maintenance of life in rural areas, the development of sustainable and responsible tourism, as well as the preservation of the aforementioned biodiversity.
