Shopping at the Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg
At the Brienzwiler and Hofstetten Entrances and in the grounds of the museum itself, you can purchase a wide range of products from the Swiss Open-Air Museum, including food and handicrafts.
The Homemade Shop
The Homemade Shop is located in the big farmhouse from Ostermundigen, Bern (331). This specialist shop sells Ballenberg specialities, including freshly bread baked from a wood-fired oven, Ballenberg sausages and Ballenberg Mutschli cheese. The range is complemented by a selection of exquisite delicacies from the region and across Switzerland. The Homemade Shop also stocks a variety of handmade products from the Open-Air Museum’s workshops.
Ballenberg Pharmacists’ Shop
The Ballenberg Pharmacists’ Shop is located in the Craftsman’s House from Herzogenbuchsee, Bern (381). The Pharmacists’ Shop is run by the Ballenbergstiftung der Schweizer Drogisten (the Ballenberg Foundation of Swiss Pharmacists). Its range includes a variety of teas, liquorice, pastilles, honey and other health and personal care products, some of which are made on-site at the Swiss Open-Air Museum.
Kiosk from Bönigen
In the historic kiosk from Bönigen BE (1041) you can discover new items and old favourites, rarities and specialities. Besides carvings and handmade products from Ballenberg, the kiosk offers sweet treats, toys, postcards and unusual souvenirs. You’ll find here your special gift from Ballenberg and experience the unique atmosphere of a tourist kiosk as it was a hundred years ago.
Markets and vegetable stalls
Fresh and healthy: during harvest time from June until autumn, every Tuesday between 3 pm and 5 pm, our gardeners sell fresh fruit and vegetables grown in the Ballenberg farm gardens at the West Entrance.
Other Ballenberg products, handicrafts and regional specialities can be purchased from the various markets held in the grounds. The current schedule is available in our events overview.
Swiss Open-Air Museum Workshops
Products made at the Open-Air Museum can be purchased from the Museum Workshops, such as the Pottery from Unterseen, Bern (1051) or the weavers in the Dwelling from Blatten, Valais (1111). Found a hat, cup or handwoven key fob that you’d like to take home? Just ask one of our craftspeople!
Märithüsli at the East and West Entrances
Jenni shirts, decorated with edelweiss and other motifs, are famous throughout Switzerland. The “Märithüsli” shops are run by the Jenni family and are located at the West and East Entrances of the Open-Air Museum. You can also visit the shops without a ticket for the museum.
The range in both “Märithüsli” folklore shops at the West (Hofstetten) and East (Brienzwiler) Entrances includes edelweiss shirts made on-site, homemade Ballenberg products and more.
Chocolate Shop
The chocolate shop is located at the east entrance. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. In addition to coffee and cake, it sells delicious Ballenberg chocolate in a variety of flavours – all made according to the original Ballenberg recipe. You can also purchase other Ballenberg specialities made on site, such as sausages, cheese and fresh bread baked in a wood-fired oven.
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
Annual holiday from 20 December 2024 to 5 January 2025
