Slow Food Specialty Weeks – Schnals Sheep

Culinary Experiences Inspired by the Transhumance

Slow Food

The sheep. In Schnalstal, countless stories revolve around these gentle herd animals. In connection with the transhumance – the return of the sheep from their summer pastures in the Ötztal Valley to Schnalstal – local restaurants invite guests every year, from the first to the last weekend of September, to the popular specialty weeks dedicated to Schnalstal sheep. Rustic and traditional, refined and modern, or newly interpreted – the dishes showcase the many ways in which local sheep meat is prepared in the valley.

The transhumance tradition, the use of local sheep meat by restaurants in Schnalstal and the preservation of traditional knowledge surrounding sheep farming continue to shape life in the valley. Since 2021, the Schnalstal sheep has been recognised as a Slow Food Presidio, helping to preserve the local breed, its traditional husbandry and the knowledge associated with it.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

On 11 December 2019 in Bogotá, Colombia, transhumance – the seasonal movement of livestock along traditional migratory routes – was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In Schnalstal, this centuries-old practice continues today, with sheep crossing the high Alpine passes between Schnalstal and the Ötztal Valley each year.

The culinary trail – a special opening to the speciality weeks

Every two years, the “Schnalstal Sheep” culinary trail marks a special start to the Slow Food speciality weeks. Local restaurants join forces to present a multi-course menu, showcasing the many different ways Schnalstal sheep can be prepared – from traditional and authentic to modern and surprising.

The culinary trail usually leads through the atmospheric cloister of the former Allerengelberg Charterhouse in Karthaus/Certosa. The individual courses are served at different stations, turning the evening into a culinary journey through Schnalstal Valley.

In 2026, the culinary trail will take place in a very special setting: to mark the 35th anniversary of the discovery of Ötzi, the event will be hosted at the archeoParc Schnalstal in Unser Frau/Madonna di Senales. Here, the valley’s ancient history meets living traditions and contemporary culinary culture.

Once again, the Schnalstal sheep takes centre stage. Various local restaurants create their own interpretations, combining the meat with selected regional products to create a special menu. The culinary trail is therefore not only about taste, but also about the stories, people and traditions behind the products.