The 33rd edition of the Transhumance Festival brought thousands of people together in central Madrid to highlight the work of shepherds and livestock farmers, as well as the contribution of grazing to the conservation of the rural environment.
A flock of 1,250 sheep and 160 goats travelled through the streets of Madrid this Sunday, 25 October, for the Transhumance Festival. The celebration introduced residents and visitors to a traditional livestock farming practice and provided an opportunity to recall its importance for rural areas and land management.
The flock included Castellana, Rubia de El Molar and Entrefina sheep, alongside Guisandera and Guadarrama goats. During the route, the animals were accompanied by shepherds and livestock farmers, as well as traditional music and dance groups.
A tradition linked to caring for the land
Beyond its festive character, the event highlighted the role of extensive livestock farming and transhumance. The participating livestock farmers stressed that grazing helps reduce the dry vegetation that can fuel forest fires.
The celebration also focused on the work of those who keep this activity alive and on the connection between the rural world and urban society.
In Plaza de la Villa, the 1418 Concord was read aloud and the traditional 50 maravedís per thousand animals were symbolically handed over. This was an amount historically paid by shepherds to travel along the town’s livestock routes.
This year, the route was changed to avoid passing through Puerta del Sol because of the protest camp set up in the square over the housing crisis.
Image: IA
