For three centuries the time honored “Chästeilet” tradition has been cherished in the Justistal valley, in the Bernese Oberland atop Spycherberg near Lake Thun. This longstanding ritual aims to allocate the alpine cheese crafted during the summer season among the farmers. The allocation follows a formula that considers factors such, as the quantity of cows milked and the volume of milk yielded.
The Justistal valley in the Bernese Oberland is famous, for its alpine meadows, where cows roam during the summer months and provide milk. This milk is used to make cheese on the alpine pastures, known as “Sennhütten “. Crafted into round wheels. Each September farmers come together in Justistal for the Chästeilet festival. During this event the Alpine cheese wheels are shared equitably among the farmers in a tradition.
The annual Alpine retreat is an occasion where local dairy farmers proudly make their way down, to the valley in attire alongside their beautifully adorned cattle. The Chästeilet festival is more than a chance to equitably distribute the crafted cheese; it serves as a communal celebration of the fruitful Alpine season. This age old tradition not honors the customs and cheese making craftsmanship of the area but also recognizes the dedication of farmers while highlighting the significance of cheese production, in Justistal.
Video JUSTISTAL CHÄSTEILET
Distribution of cheese wheels to Swiss Alpine farmers at the end of the summer.
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Video Chästeilet Justistal
For 300 years the traditional “Chästeilet” event has been held on the Spycherberg in the Justistal valley. Throughout the alpine summer the local herdsmen create cheese using the milk from, than 250 cows owned by farmers in Sigriswil. As summer comes to a close a time honored ritual known as “Chästeilet” takes place, where the cheese is shared among the farmers. Following this dairymen and women dressed in attire lead their adorned cattle down, into the valley in a celebratory parade.
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