For tourists an unforgettable holiday spectacle - for Renon people a lived custom: The cattle drive on Bartholomew's Day. The other day the time had come again and the fantastic weather attracted thousands to the pasture "Rittner Alm". Bavarian veal sausage and wheat beer - with this the "unofficial" holiday starts on August 24th. In many different locals on the way to the Corno del Renon or directly on the mountain, there are toasts to this special day early in the morning. Of course in "Dirndl" or "Lederhosen", because traditional costume is "in". From 10 o'clock onwards, the Vanga music band plays on the "Bartlma-Markt-Wiese". Some hike directly up the hill, others make a stopover at the Saltner Hut, and still others take the comfortable cable car.
Anyway - at 12 the highlight of the festival: hundreds of Haflinger horses and cows are brought in. The whole thing is somewhat reminiscent of a fashion show of the animals and in the broadest sense it is, because the spectators clap and the animals are examined and traded by the farmers. The air is filled with neighing, "mooing" and bells ringing and the smell of sausages, chops and "Krapfen". The "Saltners" (shepherds) lift their hats and show their skills at "Goaßlschnöllen". Young and old, locals and tourists sit on picnic blankets in the grass and enjoy the view of the fantastic South Tyrolean mountain scenery. Children play with stones at the stream. Some of them are looking for a little cooling off in the beautiful lake above the "Bartlma-Markt-Wiese". Later, when the colourful hustle and bustle is over, the celebrations in Tre Vie continue into the late evening hours.
The story of Barthlmastag:
Barthlmastag is an important Rittner vacation with a long tradition. It is celebrated annually on August 24 and takes its name from the patron saint of shepherds and farmers, St. Bartholomew. In the past, on this day, the farmers met on the Rittner Alm for the cattle drive and the subsequent market. The cattle of the farmers, who spent the summer on the alp, are herded together at the Saltner hut and driven in at noon with “Goasslschnoellen”, Saltner calls, neighing and yelling. The meeting point is a fenced-in area, the “Stricker Pfarrer”, where in earlier years the Barthlmas market took place, where the farmers met to do various business. Today the market takes place in Pemmern, where agricultural products from the region are offered. Since 1927, the spectacle has been accompanied by the Wangen music band, which has also provided food and drink since the 1960s. After this highlight on the Rittner Alm, the afternoon continues downhill to Pemmern, where the Almfest becomes a meadow festival with music and children’s programs.
Over the years, Barthlmastag has become the largest folk festival in Ritten and is known and loved far beyond the borders of the municipality.
If the 24th of August falls on a Sunday, the cattle drive and the market are moved to Monday since Sunday is not a market day according to custom.