Ballenberg, Switzerland's Farm Museum

Museum workers in period dress perform the daily chores of the farmers, craftsmen, and artisans. And housewives of the period perform chores such as cooking over an open fire, and demonstrating 30 traditional crafts such as weaving, lace making, and other rural trades of the country. Traditional crops of vegetables, flowers, and medicinal herbs are grown, and domesticated animals of the periods and regions increase the feeling of reality – particularly in springtime with all the newborns.

Exhibitions throughout the museum bring the everyday life alive. The exhibits on birth, weddings, and death, with subtle lighting and background sounds, are particularly evocative of the very basic and meaningful rural life. The festivals, simple but delicious food available at the bakery, cheese and sausage shops, and restaurants, and the quiet walks through the woods separating the regional building areas makes this a truly outstanding educational and relaxing travel back in time.

The Ballenberg Museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily from April 15th until October 31st. Guided tours in English, German, French, and Italian are available with advanced notice, and as in most of Switzerland, dogs are permitted if on a lead. Check out www.ballenberg.ch for complete information.

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