What is pastoralism?

Sheep rearing, star of the Pays Diois

The Diois still possesses around 100 sheep farmers who are part of the fabric of the local economy.

25 000 sheep grazed in the area, coming all the way from the South of France, peacefully graze on the 10 000 hectares of Alpine pasture which constitute the high grasslands.

The red label ‘agneau du Diois’ is a symbol of the quality of this traditional husbandry. 30% of farms are organic, 40% sign up to the ‘Signes Officiels de Qualité’ (not organic) and 30% of farmers have opted for short supply chain distribution.

The Fête de la Transhumance

A bit like the walkers who take advantage of the bounty of long summer days, the flocks of sheep follow the growth of grass from the valleys to the mountains between June and September

Over the last 30 years, in June, the la Fête de la Transhumance, celebrates this old Diois tradition of the journey up to the summer pastures

Since 2023 Châtillon-en-Diois has been the starting point for the transhumant flocks setting off, amongst much rejoicing and the tinkling of bells right up to the high Vercors plateau where they will spend the summer.

Sheep = protective dogs

The mountains, an area of freedom, also has its rules, so that the various users of the space get on with each other without problems!

The role of grazing in mountain landscape  conservation is as important as providing an area for the walker to escape to.

The summer, the main walking season, is also grazing time for sheep. Whilst walkers put all their equipment in a back pack, valley sheep farmers place all their flocks in the hands of a shepherd, who will guide them through the Alpine pastures, under the watchful eye of the protection dogs.

All you need to know about protection dogs 

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