Hat making
In the year 2000 the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum took possession of a complete hat maker's workshop. Its new home is in the Dwelling from Villnachern AG (211). The workshop comes from Wohlen and belonged to the Isler family of hatters. Up until 1996, using the tools and machinery on display, Hans Isler manufactured tens of thousands of hats which his wife, Marie Isler, then decked out and sold in the family shop in Wohlen. The hat-making workshop has been functioning again in the museum since the 2002 season. On certain days of the week it is possible to watch the hat makers at work. The hats are on sale in the museum, either at the workshop or at theshopin the Farmhouse from Ostermundigen(331).
Sewing straw braiding
In bygone centuries farming people used to often wear hats. These ranged from a simple piece of cloth to a felt hat or an elegant traditional hat which took days of work to produce. In the workshops the main materials were felt, straw and various braided materials. The typical "Swiss hat" is produced by sewing a length of straw braiding together on the straw-sewing machine, starting at the middle and working outwards. The classical straw braiding is plaited by hand even today. In the 19th century Wohlen was the main centre of the straw industry in Switzerland. Farming families in the region relied heavily on the production of straw, and plaiting the braiding was a time-consuming cottage industry.
Felt hats fresh off the press
The original workshop equipment is also still used for the production of felt hats. To make a felt hat, water is heated in a steam boiler and then poured, hissing and steaming, on to the hat press. It is an impressive sight to see how the blanks of felt are turned into shapely hats for men and women.
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
