Ballenberg, Swiss Open-Air Museum – Sightseeing Switzerland! Our homes, stables and barns are daily open for you.
New exhibition "My Forest" open now
Ignatia and Joseph von Moos welcome you to their home in Sachseln. The forest is the focus of the newly designed permanent exhibition. Past, present or future: Throughout the ages, people have pursued various interests in the forest and there have been a number of conflicts, some of which still exist today. Who does the forest actually belong to?
New special exhibition – "Who wears the trousers?"
The strongest shorts in Switzerland? Compared to other types of wrestling around the world, the answer to this is Swiss wrestling shorts! They are the principal feature and symbol of Swiss wrestling. The new special exhibition at the Swiss Open-Air Museum recounts Swiss wrestling stories from the past and present using these unique shorts, along with a number of different items, including those from the estate of the two-time Swiss wrestling king, Karl Meli from Winterthur.
Annual theme "Let's play!" – Let's play! Sports and games in Switzerland
Did people use the same balls for bowling throughout Switzerland? Did people throw the same jacks? What are the rules of Gilihüsine, an old form of the Swiss sport Hornussen, in Betten (Valais)? And which Jass playing cards are nicer: French or German ones? The 2023 season at Ballenberg will focus on sports and games.
Support the Open-Air Museum
Vitra exhibition
Can you live in a listed building? The dwelling from Matten BE (1021), converted in 2007, shows how a historic building can be modified in a contemporary, homely way, while preserving its original features. The furniture has been provided by Swiss furniture company Vitra.
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.
All you need for planning your visit
Ballenberg
Swiss Open-Air Museum
Museumsstrasse 100
CH-3858 Hofstetten bei Brienz
Opening hours
6 April to 29 October 2023
10 am to 5 pm daily
