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Belle Epoque Woche, Kandersteg

Traditions & customs

Traditions are part of Bern’s everyday life. To this day, Gstaad has retained its Alpine authenticity, and the AlpKultur® Days in Lenk offer insights into the centuries-old traditions of the Simmental.

If you are interested in culture, come to the Bern Region and the Bernese Oberland where you will experience Bern in its full authenticity – yodelling, the Swiss sports of Hornussen and Schwingen as well as lacemaking are part of everyday life here.

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Ballenberg Open-Air Museum

In the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum, 100 traditional houses are waiting to be explored. Actors portray in different plays how the rural population lived and worked in the olden days. On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, it gets spooky in Kandersteg when the Pelzmartiga move through the village to frighten people.

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Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg, Hofstetten

Pelzmartiga

On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, it gets spooky in Kandersteg when the Pelzmartiga move through the village to frighten people.

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AlpKultur® Tage Lenk

Get up close to the traditions and the customs of the Simmental with the AlpKultur® Days in Lenk. Through workshops participants will learn various skills, such as the Simmental art of paper cutting or the Hornussen, an indigenous Swiss sport. For the Alpine festival, the Älplerfest, cows are lovingly adorned with flowers and are presented to the audience who will then crown the most beautiful four-legged Miss Lenk. Simmental’s cows are famous all over the world and during the AlpKultur® Days in Lenk, they are the number one attraction.

 

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Herstellung Alphorn Eggiwil, Emmental
Experiences

Traditions

Yodelling, Swiss wrestling, hornussen throwing – locals and visitors just love these old Bernese traditions. Especially as they are still very much a part of everyday life here.

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Emmentaler Schaukäserei, Emmental
Experiences

Emmental Show Dairy

Discover the enticing world of experience that’s all about Emmentaler cheese. Watch the cheesemakers at work and try your hand at making your own cheese.

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Belle Epoque, Kandersteg
19 - 26 January 2025

Belle Époque Kandersteg

Back to the past – for one whole week. Every year in winter, the Belle Époque returns to Kandersteg. Authentic events and atmosphere transport the visitors back in time.
Altjahrswoche und Ubersitz, Meiringen
25 – 30 December 2024

Trychel Week and Ubersitz

At the end of each year Meiringen celebrates an ancient custom: Trychel Week and the Ubersitz. During these days the villagers use masks, bells and giant Trycheln cow-bells to cast out haunting spirits.
25 November 2024

Onion Market

Once a year, onions and garlic take over the City of Bern. During the Zibelemärit, the city smells of onion tarts, onion soup and mulled wine.