Then the guests emerge from the green hills: Swiss brown cows with bells as big as their heads, accompanied by little white goats and cowherds in traditional red-and-yellow costumes.
In the village of Urnaesch and across much of Switzerland, crisp autumn days are the time to welcome cows returning from their grazing in high alpine pastures to the lowlands to beat the snow.
The ceremonies, known as Alpabzug, Alpabfahrt or the Desalpe, are among the many cultural rites that still mark the seasons in this country of deeply rooted agricultural traditions.
The event has also become a tourist attraction, with the train from Zurich full that morning for the 90-minute trip.
