Accessible, convenient and user-friendly – the new Ballenberg train makes the museum more accessible than ever before. It connects the museum grounds from east to west and back and stops at three stations along the way.
Discover a piece of Switzerland and its traditions in a unique way with our new Ballenberg Train or book an exclusive group tour.
Last year, Bärbel, the adventure-loving wooden cow, ran away from the Trauffer World of Experiences and made straight for the Swiss Open-Air Museum. She enjoyed it here so much that she has come back to Ballenberg to spend another season with us. And who could blame her? So many historical houses, traditional craftsmanship and lots of farm animals – all in one place. It’s right up her street!
Visitors to Ballenberg this season will be able to see the almost finished shell of the schoolhouse relocated from Unterheid, near Meiringen (Bern), at the construction site. Reconstruction is progressing rapidly, although bricklaying with pure lime mortar takes time.
At the Brienzwiler and Hofstetten Entrances and in the grounds of the museum itself, you can purchase a wide range of products from the Swiss Open-Air Museum, including food and handicrafts.
Grabbing the back of your opponent’s shorts is what Swiss wrestling is all about. How much can these shorts withstand? Why don’t they rip when they’re yanked upwards? And who are the people involved prior to the shorts being donned at a Swiss wrestling competition? The new special exhibition "Who wears the trousers – the Swiss wrestling tradition?" is all about the strongest shorts in Switzerland. The special exhibition is open daily and included in the admission price.
Ballenberg
Swiss Open-Air Museum
Museumsstrasse 100
CH-3858 Hofstetten bei Brienz
Opening hours
10 April to 2 November 2025
10 am to 5 pm daily