Madrid celebrates the XXXIII "Fiesta de la Trashumancia" with a call to protect the shepherds and drove roads
On Sunday, October 25, flocks will once again make their way through the center of the capital in an event championing the future of extensive livestock farming and generational renewal.
• This year’s edition will place special emphasis on transhumant flocks from the Community of Madrid, following the designation of transhumance as a regional Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC).
• A flock from the Ávila Provincial Council will participate with a hundred Guisandesa goats — an endangered breed whose recovery is being promoted by the provincial institution.
• The Transhumance Festival brings together over 50 activities organized by more than 15 institutions as part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
A celebration championing the future of pastoralism
This coming Sunday, October 25, the center of Madrid will once again transform into a livestock trail with the celebration of the 33rd Transhumance Festival. Each year, the event brings together the public, shepherds, and cultural groups, while also drawing attention to the challenges facing extensive livestock farming: the effective protection of transhumant families, the preservation of the network of livestock trails, and the lack of generational renewal.
The passage of the herds through the capital's streets revives a historic tradition linked to the *Concordia* (Agreement) of 1418. The symbolic payment of *maravedíes* to the City Council will take place at Plaza de Cibeles: 50 *maravedíes* for every thousand head of livestock, commemorating the ancient right of passage.
Madrid’s flocks take center stage at this year’s event
The festival holds special significance this year following the designation of transhumance as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) by the Community of Madrid. The day will feature the prominent participation of the region's transhumant shepherds, including Los Apisquillos, Julio de la Losa, Javier de los Nietos, and Francisco Javier Soriano.
A flock belonging to the Provincial Council of Ávila will also arrive from the province of Ávila, consisting of a hundred Guisandesa goats — a breed at risk of extinction whose recovery is being promoted by the institution.
Learning Alongside the Flock
During the animals' stay in the capital, the Casa de Campo Environmental Information and Education Center (CIEA) will run an outreach and awareness program focused on extensive livestock farming and the environmental value of grasslands.
Planned activities include guided walks such as "Welcome to the Flock" and "Shepherds for a Day," offering a close-up look at the work of shepherds. The schedule also features webinars on the agroecological role of grasslands, demonstrations, wool spinning and felting workshops, storytelling sessions, activities for adults centered on artisanal cheeses from Madrid, and exhibitions on the pastures of the Central System mountain range and the intangible heritage of transhumance.Schedule for Sunday, October 25
09:30 a.m. Departure of the flocks from Casa de Campo towards Madrid city center.
10:30 a.m. Arrival of the traditional dance and folklore groups that will accompany the procession.
12:00 p.m. Arrival at Plaza de Cibeles and symbolic payment of the *maravedíes* to municipal authorities.
2:00 p.m. Return of the flocks to Casa de Campo.
Popular culture: an ally of the shepherds
Transhumance does more than just move herds between seasonal pastures; it also keeps alive traditions, music, dance, and knowledge passed down through generations. Dance and folklore groups from various regions will accompany the procession, highlighting this shared cultural heritage.
Their participation also helps raise awareness of the sector's demands: guaranteeing livestock passage along traditional drove roads, addressing the legislative and sanitary obstacles affecting the activity, and ensuring conditions that allow new generations to continue the shepherd's trade.
A festival featuring over 50 activities
The 33rd Transhumance Festival is a key event within the broader Transhumance Festival — an initiative driven by an alliance of more than 15 institutions, including the Trashumancia y Naturaleza Foundation, INTEROVIC, Madrid City Council, the Spanish Society for Pastureland (Sociedad Española de Pastos), IMIDRA, MITECO, the Global Nature Foundation, the Oxígeno Foundation, the Ávila Provincial Council, and FunPasos.
The program, organized as part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), runs throughout October and includes BESTIARIUM photography exhibitions, the 4th National Congress on Livestock Routes, a documentary series on transhumance, the presentation of the "Gancho de Oro" (Golden Hook) award to transhumant families, and the "Pastoreo" (Pastoralism) area at Puerta del Sol, featuring free tastings of lamb "Paquitos" and children's workshops on wool and ceramics.
The full program, including activities, schedules, and registration information, is available on the official website.
