“Pure Swissness” tour
Embark upon an exciting journey through the Bern region. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of historic buildings, traditional craftsmanship and living Swiss traditions. Be inspired by fascinating demonstrations, interactive stations and the charm of old farmsteads! This tour lasts 60 minutes.
The world of Swiss costumes and traditions
Starting point: Industrialist’s Villa from Burgdorf BE (361)
The tour begins in the magnificent Industrialist’s Villa, where Hans Schafroth, a respected textile manufacturer, once resided. Immerse yourself in the colourful world of Swiss costumes and discover the impressive variety of historical garments. Record your memories of this special experience at the popular traditional costume photo spot.
Farm animals at the museum
During your tour, you will encounter numerous farm animals – grazing in the meadows, relaxing in the stables or curiously exploring. Over 200 animals live in the museum grounds during the season, including cows, oxen, horses, pigs, goats, chickens and many more. Immerse yourself in authentic country life!
The smell of smoked sausages
Farmhouse from Madiswil (321)
As soon as you enter, you are hit by the intense, smoky aroma – a testament to times gone by. In the dark kitchen, the farmer’s wife once stood at the wood stove cooking for the family while smoke filled the air. But this smoke also had a practical benefit: it was used to preserve sausages, bacon and joints of meat. Look up and marvel at a ceiling full of smoked sausages!
A world of herbs and extracts
Craftsman’s House from Herzogenbuchsee BE (381)
Embark upon a journey into the fragrant world of medicinal plants. Numerous medicinal herbs are waiting to be discovered in the herb and fragrance garden. Smell, guess and be amazed! At the fragrance stations, you can guess which plant is behind which scent. In the past, knowledge of herbs was essential: farming families produced home remedies themselves or delivered their herbs to drugstores. Be inspired by traditional herbal products in the Ballenberg drugstore.
The "hands-on-house"
Farmhouse from Oberentfelden BE (221)
This farmhouse is full of surprises to discover and explore! Find out what the specially chosen historical items in the building were once used for. Try some ancient handicrafts or lend a hand with the daily chores around the house. Or how about slipping into historical clothing and experiencing the magic of the past? All this and much more awaits you here!
Traditional craftsmanship
Observe the craftspeople as they skilfully and carefully process straw, flax and silk. The ancient handicrafts of straw twisting, hat making, silk ribbon weaving and weaving come to life here. At least one craft demonstration takes place every day in one of the workshops.
Weaving – parlours as production facilities
Many Swiss farmsteads once housed large looms that were often in operation for 16 to 18 hours a day. The whole family helped to produce hemp, linen and cotton fabrics that were sold in Switzerland and abroad. Experience traditional linen weaving at first hand here in the Farmhouse from Eggiwil BE (351). Experienced weavers demonstrate this ancient technique and give insights into the painstaking but fascinating weaving loom work.
Hat making – a craft with history
In previous centuries, people often wore hats – from simple scarves and felt hats to elaborately crafted traditional hats that took days to create by hand. Many farming families plaited straw braids for these as a laborious cottage industry. A complete hatmaker’s workshop has been set up in the dwelling from Villnachern AG (211), where straw and felt are mainly processed today. Look over the hatmaker’s shoulder and see how this ancient craft is kept alive.
Silk ribbon weaving – decorative ribbons made of silk
Modebewusste Frauen trugen im 19. Jahrhundert lange Kleider mit kunstvollen Bändern. Bis in die 1950er-Jahre war Mode ohne Seidenbänder unvorstellbar – Hüte, Mäntel, Röcke und selbst Haarspangen wurden mit bunten Seidenbändern verziert. Die Herstellung dieser Bänder, das Posamentieren, war seit dem 16. Jahrhundert charakteristisch für die Region Basel. Im Haus aus Therwil BL (131) wird dieses Handwerk an einem grossen Webstuhl aus dem Jahr 1895 vorgeführt.
Straw twisting – delicate work with a big impact
Straw twisting is the process of twisting straw together to form sturdy cords. This delicate, precise craft requires a lot of skill and patience. Traditionally, this technique was performed by hand using simple tools. Numerous everyday and luxury products were made from the cords. Women and children usually carried out this arduous work at home in order to exchange 100 twisted cords for the meagre wage of a loaf of bread. You can see how this ancient craft is kept alive in the Farmhouse from Tentlingen FR (511).
Hands-on traditional cheese-making
There’s a lot to do in the Cheese Storehouse from Wasen BE (352). Take a seat in the milking stool and try your hand at milking. Help us carefully move the cheese wheels and learn more about the ageing and storage of this Swiss cultural treasure. There is a special task for our younger visitors: they can playfully carry cheese on their backs using the traditional wooden frame. Here, too, you can slip into historical clothing and be transported back in time to 150 years ago.
Cooking and baking just like old times
In the olden days, farmers’ wives prepared a variety of hearty Swiss dishes every day using simple methods, over an open fire or in a wood-burning oven. A lot of skill was required to keep the oven at a constant temperature using wood, without a thermometer. Don’t miss our traditional farmhouse cuisine and sample freshly prepared delicacies such as apple cake, tarte flambée and much more. Baking and cooking take place every day either in the Oven House from Breitenried FR (513) or in the Farmhouse from Villars-Bramard VD (531) – just like in the olden days!
Fresh bread from the wood-fired oven
The smell of freshly baked bread is in the air! In the Stöckli bakehouse from Detligen/Radelfingen BE (333), the wood-fired oven is lit every morning – a sweat-inducing task requiring a lot of preparation. In the past, farmers’ wives baked their bread in bakehouses that were often owned by the community. Larger farms had their own bakehouse, while in other places, several families shared an oven-house. Watch our bakers make bread in the traditional way – and taste a piece of authentic Swiss baking.
Swiss wrestling, an enduring tradition
Farmhouse Ostermundigen BE (331)
Grabbing the back of your opponent’s shorts is what Swiss wrestling is all about. The “Who wears the trousers?” special exhibition is all about Swiss wrestling – but that’s not all! It also provides fascinating facts about what are probably the strongest shorts in Switzerland. Find out how much Swiss wrestling shorts can withstand, why they don’t tear when pulled up and much more.
Woodland playground and Picnic area
The woodland playground is an exciting place for little ones! The various play areas are entirely dedicated to the forest and its inhabitants and offer countless opportunities for adventurers of all ages. And when you’re ready for a break, our picnic areas are the perfect place to linger and relax.
Culinary delights
The "Homemade" shop
In the big Farmhouse from Ostermundigen BE (331), you can choose from a selection of exquisite homemade delicacies. Discover Ballenberg specialities such as freshly baked bread from a wood-fired oven, Ballenberg sausages and Ballenberg Mutschli cheese. Of course, Swiss Ballenberg chocolate made according to the original recipe is also a must. The range is complemented by delicacies from the region and across Switzerland.
"Alter Bären" Restaurant
Enjoy delicious specialities from the canton of Bern at the "Alter Bären" Restaurant BE (311) – either in the cosy dining room or on the spacious outdoor terrace.
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
