Ballenberg Swiss Open Air Museum, Switzerland

Rural house at the Ballenberg Open Air Museum
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ballenberg_o1.jpg
Author: Virginia Teager
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Ballenberg Open Air Museum is a museum in Hofstetten bei Breinz, in Bern canton, Switzerland. It showcases traditional wooden houses of Switzerland, ranging from alpine chalets to farm houses, complete with farmyard animals.

Ballenberg covers 66 hectares (160 acres) and has over 100 rural buildings brought from different parts of Switzerland and reassembled there. The architectural style of almost every canton in Switzerland is represented here. Each building is furnished according to the period in which they were constructed. Some were brought here wholesale, with their original furnishing intact. In addition to viewing the buildings themselves, visitors to Ballenberg also learn about the industries and crafts of rural Switzerland. There are workshops where visitors get to view weaving, spinning, pottery, wickerwork, lace-making and cheese-making. To complete the experience, Ballenberg stages regular folk festivals reviving traditional and endangered customs.

Visiting Ballenberg Swiss Open Air Museum

Ballenberg Open Air Museum is located between the Haslital Meiringen-Hasliberg region and Interlaken. The museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm from 15 April to 31 October. Entrance fee is CHF 20 for adults and CHF 10 for children aged 6 to 16.

Rustic interior, Ballenberg Open Air Museum
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ballenberg_o2.jpg
Author: Soham Pablo
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Sights at Ballenberg Swiss Open Air Museum

Bernese Midlands Area House
A three-stoey house with balconies, used as the administrative building of Ballenberg.
Brülisau House
This house built in 1754 exhibits elements of architecture common in eastern Switzerland.
Lütschental Cheese Store
An elevated storehouse for cheese from the Bernese Oberland.
Ostermindigen House
House built in 1797. Although built of wood, its façade was painted grey to resemble stone.
Richterswil House
An excellent example of the half-timbered house common in northeastern Switzerland. This two-family house was built in 1780. It comes from Richterswil near Zürich.
Therwil House
Stone house built in 1675 and typical of the style from the Jura region. It includes a wooden outbuilding.
Törbel Mill House
19th century mill house from Valais. If demonstrates the use of mountain stream power to grind grain.
Villnachern Family House
House built of limestone in 1630 reflects the affluence of its original owner.

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