39. Switzerland, Swiss Open-Air Museum at Ballenberg

For a view of rural life, look at this feast of images that come from central Switzerland. 

 http://ballenberg.ch/en/Info/Portrait

View the film and the 360 degree panoramas, and you will have an idea of the extensive nature park and the variety of crafts buildings that are interspersed all over the property in this open-air museum.  One can walk all over the 660,000 square meters (163 acres), if he cares to hike the paths, around and into homes, workshops and farm buildings from almost every canton from the 14th to 19th centuries. 

When we toured this place twenty years ago, it was called,  

"The Swiss Open-Air Museum of Vernacular architecture, country life and crafts at Ballenberg." 

This remarkable place has expanded its property, added many buildings and shortened its name. 

In 1993 our family strolled through this open-air museum (just like that family in the film), only I recall a few more complaints from our three children than these happy larks.   Even though it was less developed then, we did not nearly spend enough time or see all the buildings. It rained hard the day we were there, and we took shelter in one of the buildings during a downpour.   The rain did not dampen our spirits, and perhaps that day helped inspire our daughter to become a meteorologist.  

Regarding that Bauernhaus (farmhouse) and Speicher (storehouse) from Ostermundigen, Bern Canton, this is what I wrote after seeing it,

"Under one roof are the spacious farmhouse living quarters and also the agricultural section, including a barn with stall for animals, a threshroom and feed passage.   In the back a driveway leads over a ramp onto the barn where hay and grain were stored.   Carts, wagons and farm implements were stored here also.

"The storehouse contained food (vegetables, potatoes and cider in the cellar, grains of all kinds stored in bins, smoked meats and dried fruits);  the farmer's treasures and other valuables (clothes, linens and important papers) were also stored here.

"The house is painted grey to give the impression of stone.   The front of the house has a gabled balcony with a boxed-in rounded arch called a Rundi.   False windows are painted on the balcony wall along with the family coat of arms and paintings of flowers and birds."

The acquisitions come from places where demolitions occur, because of modernization, to clear the way for railroads and other constructions.    The buildings are taken apart piece by piece and reconstructed on this property.    The expense must be astronomical.   The museum closes at the end of October and remains closed for winter, until it reopens in April.