Ballenberg – Swiss Open-Air Museum
Overview
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Hint
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Intro
In the Ballenberg open-air museum near Brienz, you will travel through rural Switzerland. Here are faithfully rebuilt residential and craft houses from all parts of the country. In addition, more than 30 old crafts will be actively demonstrated.
The Ballenberg – Swiss Open-Air Museum at a glance
The Ballenberg open-air museum in the Bern Oberland shows over 100 original residential and craft houses from all Swiss regions. The buildings were carefully dismantled and rebuilt on the museum grounds. Traditional crafts are demonstrated in the houses and there are over 200 species of farm animals to observe around the farms.
What to experience
Walking tour of historic buildings (2-3 hours)
As you walk around the grounds, you will discover the diversity of the old architecture: From the mighty Bernese farmhouse to the Valais granary, each house tells you how people once lived and worked in rural Switzerland. You can see impressively how the climate, landscape and way of life of the people have shaped the buildings.
- Good to know: Explore the open-air museum comfortably and easily with the Ballenberg cable car.
- Tip: It's better to visit a few houses, but watch the craftsmen and ask questions.
Discover lively workshops
Blacksmiths, weavers, basket weavers, carvers or bakers actually work on site on the Ballenberg and demonstrate their traditional craft to you. While the smell of freshly baked bread rises to your nose from the bakeries, you get into conversation with the craftswomen and experience Swiss history up close.
- Good to know: At hands-on stations you can try out different crafts yourself.
Farm animal watching
Over 200 native livestock species can be found on the Ballenberg: Pigs, goats, chickens and rare old breeds that are otherwise hardly to be seen. The animals live in stables specially prepared for them, where you can observe and marvel at them up close. Many animals spend the summer here in the open-air museum instead of on the alp.
- Good to know: With the map from the entrance you will find the stables and enclosures of all animals.
- Tip: Keep an eye out for the rare ancient animal species and breeds.
General information
| Season |
April - November
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|---|---|
| Accessibility |
Partially accessible
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Discover the surroundings
Address
Ballenberg, Freilichtmuseum der Schweiz
Museumsstrasse 100
Postfach
3858
Hofstetten b. Brienz
Switzerland
Phone
+41 (0)33 952 10 30
info@ballenberg.ch
ballenberg.ch
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