1032 – Drying oven from Brienzwiler, Berne, 18th Century

Ovens for baking and drying can be integrated in dwellings, as in the farmhouse from La Chaux-de-Fonds (111). They often stood apart as a separate building isolated from the house to obviate the danger of fire. The 18th century oven from Brienzwiler is of this kind. They were called in dialect "Derrofen". The oven stands opposite the chapel from Turtig/Raron (1131) and already existed on the land of the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum before the opening.

A small but important element is visible above the firedoor: the apertures of the draft flues which can be dampered by movable clay tiles. This regulates the energy. This in turn stores energy in the form of dried apple and pear slices, good for supplying strength in the winter. The big drying oven from Alpnachstad (713) demonstrates more clearly the concept of such structures.