Ballenberg – out despite the rain

It’s Sunday morning, 10:00 a.m. Actually, we should have spotted the Gauli hut above the Urbach valley in the distance at this time. However, due to persistent rainfall, we had to abandon the hike to the Gauli Glacier and the legendary Dakota crash site in favor of a “dry run” in the special exhibition on the Dakota crash at the Grimseltor Tourist Center in Innertkirchen. Since mid-June, the Dakota propeller, which was released two years ago by the Gauli Glacier, and other reminders of the 1946 rescue operation have been on display here. In addition to the exhibition, we also watch the one-hour film “Drama on the Gauli Glacier”.

But what now? The rain persists and so my last hopes for a short mountain intermezzo are dashed. But the Haslital also has some trump cards up its sleeve for such days. We briefly consider tackling the barefoot hiking trail (which is said to be particularly pleasant in rainy weather) and then decide on the classic of the region – the Ballenberg.

As a child, Ballenberg was one of my favorite excursion destinations. It was always a special pleasure to take a journey through time through Swiss building culture with foreign guests on the Ballenberg. On more than 66 hectares, there are not only more than 100 faithfully reconstructed farms, houses and stables to discover, but guests also gain exciting insights into traditional crafts. The open-air museum shines with its authenticity. It shows history to touch and experience. You won’t find any dusty display cases.

Half-timbered romance in the Eastern Midlands

So we go on an entertaining walk across Switzerland in light rain. The historic buildings are arranged thematically according to their original location. We start our tour in the “Eastern Midlands”, where a pretty ensemble has been created from half-timbered pearls. The adjacent sawmill also forms the backdrop for the current landscape theatre Via Mala (9 July – 23 August).

Spontaneous detour to the Swiss sunshine

Passing a beautiful Appenzell farmhouse from Brülisau, the path leads us towards the Bernese Oberland, where we take a quick look at the cheese dairy. The room is packed with visitors who are fascinated by the cheesemaker making Ziger. Passing Valais alpine huts, the path leads us further south. Ticino is also located on the Ballenberg at the southernmost tip. It’s worth the detour! In the impressive manor house, there is a seductive smell of polenta, which is served in the osteria.

Traditional handicrafts to marvel at and learn

The best thing about Ballenberg, however, is that visitors can enter every building and most things can be touched. In many buildings, there is a lot of activity – for example, lace making, hats are made, wood is carved, silkworms are raised, ropes are produced. My personal favorite is the historic drugstore, where you can buy many naturally produced products made from medicinal herbs.

Farm – Idyll

Another attraction are the more than 250 farm animals, which magically attract children in particular. But even I can’t resist the charm of the young donkey. Last but not least, we pay a visit to the village shop. Wood-fired bread, sausages, cheese, honey, jam and chocolate – all made on site – exude a delicious scent. We leave the shop with a heavy bag and are happy to eat the delicacies for dinner.

Although the Gauli glacier has fallen into the water for the time being, we draw a positive conclusion in the afternoon. Despite the gloomy weather, we had an entertaining day on the Ballenberg and not only learned a lot, but also got a healthy portion of fresh air.

Info and tips:

• Admission adults 22 CHF / children up to 16 years 11 CHF
• Open daily from mid-April to the end of October from 10:00 to 17:00
• Accessible by bus from Brienz train station and/or Brünig train station
• Worth seeing special exhibition “Enfances volées – Verdingkinder reden”
• An overview map of Ballenberg can be found here: Museum map
• Winter insider tip: the Ballenberg is also accessible to walkers in winter via the normal hiking trails

Note: My visit to the Ballenberg was supported by Haslital Tourism. Thank you very much for this! As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.