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Bernese Midlands

The region extends from the Lake of Thun to Wynau (near Olten) and from Laupen (near the Lake of Murten) to the Emmen valley on the border to Lucerne.

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Frontansicht des stattlichen Bauernhauses aus Ostermundigen BE im Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg.

Impressive Building Landscape

This geographical zone is well-represented by 17 buildings. It extends from the Lake of Thun to Wynau (near Olten) and from Laupen (near the Lake of Murten) to the Emmen valley on the border to Lucerne. The Bernese Midlands form the heart of the second largest Swiss canton and presently comprise 100 communities.

From Tiny to Gigantic

This zone contains a wide range of architecture: small buildings like firehouses and apiaries (334, 383), granaries and barns (322, 332, 341, 352), parents’ quarters (333, 382), the nostalgic villa of a rich industrialist (361), the massive and decorated farmhouse of a wealthy owner (331) and the modest dwelling of a day labourer (371). These buildings were erected between the 17th century and the epoque around 1900. The sizes range from tiny like the wellhouse (323), with just enough room for one person, to the multipurpose Madiswil farmhouse (321) with a length of 20 metres (66 feet).

Influential Agrocapitalists

Trade and transport, crafts and mercenary fees led to capital and honour in urban circles. In the countryside, fertile fields and broad pastures rendered wealth to the owners of large farms. In the 17th and 19th centuries they acquired more real estate and more wealth through animal and field husbandry – to the disadvantage of farmhands, maids and day labourers already largely deprived of rights, impoverished and thus open to exploitation. Anyone not prepared to slave for low wages and poor keep faced the uncertain risk of emigration.

311Farmhouse with restaurant

Rapperswil Berne, 18th Century/1837

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 311 Bauernhaus mit Wirtsstube/Wirtshaus «Alter Bären» Rapperswil BE

312Oven house

Oberwangen Berne, 1796

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 312 Ofenhaus aus Oberwangen BE

321Farmhouse

Madiswil Berne, 1709

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 321 Bauernhaus aus Madiswil BE

322Granary

Kiesen Berne, 1685

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 322 Kornspeicher aus Kiesen BE

323Groundwater wellhouse

Wimmis Berne, 19th Century

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 323 Sodbrunnen aus Wimmis BE

331Farmhouse

Ostermundigen Berne, 1797

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 331 Bauernhaus aus Ostermundigen BE, Laden Hausgemachtes

332Granary

Ostermundigen Berne, 1760

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 332 Kornspeicher aus Ostermundigen

333Stöckli

Detligen/Radelfingen Berne, 18th Century

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 333 Stöckli aus Detligen/Radelfingen BE

334Fire house

Mühledorf Berne, 1834

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 334 Spritzenhaus aus Mühledorf BE

341Barn

Faulensee Berne, 1702

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 341 Stallscheune aus Faulensee BE

351Farmhouse

Eggiwil Berne, 17th Century

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 351 Bauernhaus aus Eggiwil BE

352Cheese storehouse

Wasen Berne, 1785

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 352 Käsespeicher aus Wasen BE

361Industrialist's villa

Burgdorf Berne, 1872

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 361 Fabrikantenvilla aus Burgdorf BE

362Horse stable

Luchsingen Glarus, 1861

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 362 Pferdestall aus Luchsingen GL

371Day labourer's house

Detligen/Radelfingen Berne, 1760

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 371 Taglöhnerhaus aus Detligen/Radelfingen BE

381Craftsman's house

Herzogenbuchsee Berne, 1778

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 381 Handwerkerhaus aus Herzogenbuchsee BE, historische Drogerie

382Stöckli

Köniz Berne, around 1820

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 382 Stöckli aus Köniz BE

383Apiary

Gwatt Berne, around 1900

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Icon Museumsplan Nr. 383 Bienenhaus aus Gwatt BE

Ballenberg
Swiss Open-Air Museum

Museumsstrasse 100
CH-3858 Hofstetten bei Brienz

+41 33 952 10 30
info@ballenberg.ch

Opening hours

11 April to 27 October 2024
10 am to 5 pm daily

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