Open-air museum celebrates heritage

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Sheep grazing in front of the house from canton Schwyz. Built in 1336, it is the oldest wooden house in Switzerland. Tomas Wuethrich

Butcher Rolf Trauffer with his Ballenberg sausages. The sausages are hung to smoke for three weeks in the kitchen of a farmhouse from Madiswil, built in 1709. Tomas Wuethrich

The bedroom in the house from Malvaglia, canton Ticino. Tomas Wuethrich

Busy hatters at work at the autumn fair. Tomas Wuethrich

Wooden shingles protect the facade of the farmhouse from Brülisau, Appenzell. Tomas Wuethrich

At a company outing, employees try blowing alphorns as part of the mini Olympics on the Champatsch alp. Tomas Wuethrich

A vegetable patch in front of the house from Adelboden, canton Bern. Tomas Wuethrich

Vacuuming the farmhouse from Tentlingen, canton Fribourg. The houses are cleaned every evening. Tomas Wuethrich

Different wallpaper used in the house from Schwyz. Tomas Wuethrich

Above each window and door there’s the mark of a cross and it’s assumed that the house from Malvaglia, Ticino, was used as a parsonage. Tomas Wuethrich

A family at the kitchen table in the farmhouse from Lancy, canton Geneva. Tomas Wuethrich

On a two day course, students build a clay oven together with course leader Christoph Wegelin (middle right). Here, the oven is being given another layer of clay. Tomas Wuethrich

Stone wood heater in the house from Malvaglia, Ticino. Tomas Wuethrich

Children in the school room on the first floor of the wash house from Rüschlikon. Tomas Wuethrich

Traditional wooden fences in the group of houses from central Switzerland. Tomas Wuethrich

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Ballenberg is living witness to Switzerland’s rural past.

Situated in the Bernese Oberland, the museum draws both Swiss and international tourists who are attracted by the opportunity to take a step back into the past.

(All images: Tomas Wüthrich)