Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival

Loading the video No Comment Video. Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 25/10/2026 - 17:52 GMT+1 Over 1,400 sheep and goats took over Madrid's streets on Sunday, delighting spectators at the 33rd annual Transhumance Festival, which followed a different route this year to avoid a housing protest. The flock of 1,250 sheep and 160 goats set off from Casa de Campo before crossing the Puente del Rey and making its way through the historic centre. Bells chimed and animals bleated as crowds of residents and tourists lined the streets to watch, take photographs and follow the procession. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Several shepherds wore traditional dress, while others carried young lambs or offered treats to their animals. Folk musicians added to the festive atmosphere as the flocks filled streets and squares normally dominated by traffic. The event marks transhumance, the centuries-old practice of moving livestock between summer and winter pastures along vías pecuarias (drovers’ routes). At Plaza de la Villa, officials staged the traditional payment of 50 maravedís per thousand animals, a symbolic ceremony dating from 1418. This year’s route was altered to avoid Puerta del Sol, where housing campaigners have set up a protest camp following the eviction and subsequent death of an 87-year-old local resident. Beyond celebrating rural heritage, the festival highlights the environmental value of traditional grazing: by consuming vegetation, the animals help reduce flammable undergrowth and lower wildfire risks. Spain Madrid Festival sheep livestock Tradition Top stories Now playing Next Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival Now playing Next Hungary: 70 years after Soviet crackdown, leaders honour uprising victims Now playing Next Kenya: huge piles of rubble after high-rise building collapses Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 25th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next UK's Andy Burnham wants 'honest discussion' on EU free movement Now playing Next Israel orders West Bank crossings to close on election day Now playing Next Bulgaria heads to the polls for first round of presidential election Now playing Next Protests spread from Paris to other capital cities across Europe Now playing Next Italy: Thousands take to the streets as protests turn violent Now playing Next Young protesters clash with police on Rome streets Now playing Next Violent protests shake Tirana as police use tear gas and water cannons Now playing Next French police clash with protesters following largely peaceful demos Now playing Next More than 1,300 arrests across France as protesters clashed with police Now playing Next Serbia goes to polls to choose between Vučić and student movement Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 25th, 2026 – Morning Now playing Next Young protesters clash with police on Rome streets ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Storm Austen batters France and UK with winds of up to 160 km/h No Comment France: shops barricaded in Lyon and Orléans for possible unrest No Comment Gaza: Moment Israeli airstrike hits building in Nuseirat caught on camera No Comment Scuffle breaks out in Albanian parliament as MPs clash over protests Europe News Protests sweep across Europe from France to Albania, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Europe News Euronews on the ground as hundreds of thousands take to the streets of Paris Europe News Fire engulfs Hitler’s former Eagle’s Nest retreat in Germany Europe News Violent protests shake Tirana as police use tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators Europe News Watch: French police deploy armoured vehicles in Paris and Marseille Europe News Italy: Thousands take to the streets as protests turn violent in several cities Europe News Madrid joins weekend of protests across Europe as thousands rally for better pensions Europe News Soldiers patrol Milan streets as shops board up ahead of protests ADVERTISEMENT Europe News Clashes between French police and protesters after largely peaceful demonstrations that drew thousands Europe News Tensions mount in France as thousands rally against Marine Le Pen’s National rally Russia Footage shows smoke plumes after deadly strike on Russian factory Europe News French police fire tear gas to disperse protest in Lyon Europe News Ukraine restores 'stable' connection to Musk's Starlink, Kyiv says Europe News France on edge as fresh nationwide protests begin amid last-minute restrictions Europe News Video shows extensive damage inside France's historic Limoges Town Hall Europe News France bolsters security as businesses fear renewed unrest during Saturday protests ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT