The Swiss town of Ballenberg will host the traditional village fair and donkey market on 28 and 29 September. The holiday symbolizes the end of summer and allows all guests to plunge into the past for a short time. Delicious local delicacies and drinks sold at the fair are made exclusively according to old recipes and technologies. Magicians, jugglers and organ-grinders show numbers that are centuries old. And, of course, everyone can legally buy a donkey at the world's most famous gray market.
For the convenience of tourists, the organizers of the fair every year appoint it for the last weekend of September. Therefore, those who wish to come can always calculate their vacation themselves and the desired date of travel. The former village, and now the town of Ballenberg, is located in the Bernese Alps, on the shores of Lake Brienz.
The fair is the last cultural event of the year, which is why the Swiss organize it on an extraordinary scale. Throughout two days, Ballenberg is flooded with street musicians, theater artists and ethnographic groups. Guests are treated to famous Swiss delicacies. Cider made from natural oak has gained worldwide fame as a beverage.
The donkey market held together with the fair is also famous. In ancient times, it was a gray market. But over time, when the holiday gained wide popularity, the authorities legalized it, but it did not receive official status. For the same reason, it is known to date as the only market in Switzerland specifically dedicated to the donkey trade. Of course, in fact, there are few people who want to buy an animal. Visitors are attracted by the opportunity to participate in an old event and ride children on donkeys that are rare in the modern world.
Also, lovers of antiquity will be interested in visiting the Ballenberg open-air museum. Its area of 660 thousand square meters contains all the old houses that have ever existed in Switzerland. Some of the exhibits are nearly 250 years old. Moreover, all the houses are completely real and are in excellent condition. Everyone can go to the house they like, touch household items, light the stove, cook food on it. The museum exhibits are home to pets that you can feed and care for. Gardens are laid out near the houses and tourists can easily taste fruits straight from the branch. The landscape of the museum has been specially created to replicate the features of the area that are characteristic of the different cantons of Switzerland. The entrance to the museum is paid.
It's easy to get to the fair. All tour operators include a visit to the holiday in their travel itinerary. Moreover, you can choose both a comprehensive program, which includes a visit to all Swiss attractions, and a special one for those who are only interested in this event.
