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Ballenberg, Swiss Open-Air MuseumExperience true Swissness. Our homes, stables and barns are open for you daily.

What you can experience today at Ballenberg

    Ballenberg Train

    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.

    Discover now
    Erkunden Sie das Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg bequem mit der Ballenberg-Bahn.

    Upcoming events 2025

      Selfie-Challenge: Bärbel's Adventures

      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!

      To the Selfie-Challenge
      Finde Bärbel, die Holzkuh auf dem Ballenberg. Poste ein kreatives, freches Selfie mit dem Hashtag #BärbelsAbenteuer und gewinne tolle Preise.

      News from the Swiss Open-Air Museum

        The Swiss Open-Air Museum is getting a schoolhouseConstruction diary schoolhouse Unterheid

        Since the start of the new construction season at the end of March, remarkable progress has been made on the construction site of the schoolhouse from Unterheid. With the ground floor walls completed, a section of the timber structure was next in line. Going forward, carpenters will be joining masons on site more often, with timber and stone construction now going hand in hand.

        To the construction diary
        Mit dem Schulhaus aus Unterheid aus dem Jahr 1830 erweitert das Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg seine Sammlung.

        Shopping at the Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg

        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.

        Discover now
        Der Laden Hausgemachtes verkauft im Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg Würste, Käse, Brot und viele weitere Köstlichkeiten.

        Special exhibitionWho wears the trousers? Schwingen – the Swiss wrestling tradition

        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.

        Discover now
        Die Sonderausstellung «Die Hose der Bösen: Schwingen – eine lebendige Tradition» im Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg.

        Ballenberg
        Swiss Open-Air Museum

        Museumsstrasse 100
        CH-3858 Hofstetten bei Brienz

        +41 33 952 10 30
        info@ballenberg.ch

        Opening hours

        10 April to 2 November 2025
        10 am to 5 pm daily

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