On our way back to Lausanne i wanted to stop at Martigny to watch ‘les combats des reines’ or the battle of the cows. It’s really something special.
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of attending a combat, but my wife never seen one before. It was the perfect opportunity to show her.

The Swiss call the Cow fighting a sport. It involves cows of the Hérens breed, and it is organised in canton Valais, Switzerland, where it is listed as a living Swiss tradition.
It’s actually natural behaviour. As the Hérens cow has a lively temperament, you can see them fighting during the summer months on the alpine meadows to establish hierarchy.
The cows are painted with a number on their withers and than taken to the arena were the battle begins.
An animal is defeated when it turns away from its opponent or refuses to fight as a sign of submission. At the end of the jousting, the ‘queen’ of the herd is designated.
It is not a minor event. Thousands of spectators flock to the event, not only to watch the cows fighting but also for a beer and some excellent charcuterie.