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History of the museum

The Ballenberg Open-Air Museum first opened its doors in 1978. At that time, there were just 16 objects displayed in the museum. Today, over 100 historic buildings from all over the country are open to visitors on the museum site.

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Weisse Wäsche beim Bauernhaus aus Eggiwil BE (351) im Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg.

At the end of the 19th century folklore museums made everyday objects and living conditions of the rural population accessible to a wider public. The systematic collection and exhibition of traditional cultural objects combined with educational goals and the emphasis on reaching a wide audience still characterises open-air museums today.

1891: The first open-air museum opened

In 1891, the first open-air museum was opened on Skansen Island in Stockholm. Just 20 years after the founding of the Skansen Museum already almost 20 important open-air museums existed in northern Europe. The most spectacular growth of this kind of museum happened, however, during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s of the 20th century, when innumerable institutions of this kind, among them the first industrial museums and non-European open-air museums, were founded.

  • 1978 war es endlich so weit: Das Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg öffnete seine Tore.

    In 1968, the "Swiss Open-Air Museum Foundation Ballenberg at Brienz" was founded.

  • 1978 war es endlich so weit: Das Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg öffnete seine Tore.

    In 1978 the time had finally come: The Open-Air Museum opened its doors.

  • 1978 war es endlich so weit: Das Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg öffnete seine Tore.

    The opening was celebrated with guests from all over Switzerland.

  • 1978 war es endlich so weit: Das Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg öffnete seine Tore.

    Parades and music societies were part of the opening ceremony.

  • 1978 war es endlich so weit: Das Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg öffnete seine Tore.

    Ceremonial address at the opening in 1978.

1963: Expert commission set up

Even when the first open-air museum in Scandinavia was opened, the idea of having an open-air museum in Switzerland had been launched. However, neither the plans for a “medieval Swiss town” at the Historical Museum of Berne nor the discussions as to whether or not the Swiss National Museum in Zurich should add rural buildings to its collection led to anything. It was not until 1963 that the Swiss Federal Council set up an expert commission to consider the possibility of creating a national open-air museum. As opposed to other locations, the site of Ballenberg managed to convince the commission members of its suitability.

1978: The Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg opened its doors with 16 objects

In 1978, the Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg finally opened its doors and was presented to the public during a three-day celebration. After opening with 16 buildings, there were already 25 two years later and a total of 61 in 1985. Today, there are over 100 houses and other secondary buildings at Ballenberg. The basis for the academic concept of the Open-Air Museum Ballenberg was the work done by farmhouse researchers in Switzerland. It was fundamental in ensuring that there was a wide choice of the most important, typically characteristic forms of houses, farmsteads and settlements in this country.

1978 öffnete das Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg seine Tore mit 16 Museumsobjekten.

Milestones in the history of the museum

An overview of the most important dates in the over 40-year history of the Open-Air Museum Ballenberg.

  • End of the 19th century: The first open-air museums are established in Scandinavia
  • 1963: The Federal Council appoints a commission of experts to examine the possibility of creating a national open-air museum
  • 1968: Founding of the "Swiss Open-Air Museum Foundation Ballenberg at Brienz"
  • 1978: Opening of the Open-Air Museum with 16 buildings and the first handicraft demonstrations
  • 1992: Founding of the Ballenberg Outdoor Theatre Association
  • 1996: More than 200 farm animals move into Ballenberg; opening of the Ballenberg Course Centre
  • 1997: Inauguration of the oldest building: residential dwelling from Schwyz SZ (751) from the year 1336
  • 2003: Inauguration of the largest building: farmstead from Novazzano TI (851) with more than 50 rooms
  • 2007: Modernisation of the over 400 year old residential dwelling from Matten BE (1021)
  • 2010: Move into the new administration building designed by Gion Caminada
  • 2017: Inauguration of the last building for the time being: brickyard from Péry BE (141)
  • 2018: In the anniversary year, 109 historical buildings are located in the Open-Air Museum

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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