The Ballenberg Open-Air Museum has been presenting the different facets of rural culture since 1978, recreating farming life and handicrafts of years gone by in over 100 buildings which are faithful reconstructions of the originals. Swiss Post is paying tribute to the achievements of the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum Foundation, which was established 50 years ago, with four stamps showing buildings and houses from all parts of Switzerland. The Ballenberg motifs in miniature format are the result of a competition in which one designer from each of the four regions was invited to take part. The buildings on the special stamps and other historic structures can be explored at Ballenberg.

Flying high and climbing high

There is a sporty feel to the special stamp dedicated to the Mountain Bike World Championships 2018, which will be held in Lenzerheide in Graubünden from 5 to 9 September 2018. The designers Moritz Adler and Mathias Zimmermann, both from Berne, are already helping us to get in the mood for the unique sporting event thanks to their A Mail stamp creation. Around 30,000 spectators are expected to cheer on their idols in the race for the coveted rainbow jerseys.

While the mountain bikers are flying high in September, the Stanserhorn Railway will have been climbing high for 125 years. At 1,898 metres above sea level, the railway provides guests with an extraordinary mountain experience, be it in the open-top CabriO cable car or during a trip on the nostalgic funicular railway. Swiss Post is capturing the anniversary on a stamp and postal card, having already devoted a special stamp to the CabriO cable car in 2012. The 50th anniversary of the Stockhorn Railway in the Bernese Oberland has also been immortalized by Swiss Post in a stamp and a postal card.

Swiss Post’s new stamp motifs also pay tribute to the Swiss Pharmacists’ Association, which is celebrating 175 years of history. The typical Swiss sport of Hornussen, with its “Nouss” (puck) and “Ries” (playing field), also has its moment to shine in the current stamp issue. This year, the Pro Patria stamp with a surcharge is once again dedicated to castles and fortresses. Two EUROPA stamps on the theme of “Bridges” complete the new collection. These showcase the Spreuer Bridge, which was built in Lucerne in the 13th century and is one of the oldest surviving wooden bridges in Switzerland, and the Trift Bridge in the Gadmertal (Canton of Berne), one of the longest and highest suspension bridges in the Alps.

Information:

François Furer, Swiss Post Media Spokesperson, +41 58 341 19 47, presse@swisspost.ch