Sculpting stone and ringing bells

Restoration work is carried out at the St Peter and Paul parish church in Sattel. Office for monument protection, Canton Schwyz

Starting on September 6, Switzerland is hosting various events in honour of its heritage.

One of the events is Switzerland’s contribution to the Council of Europe’s “European Heritage Days”.

On September 7 and 8, Swiss heritage buildings across the country will open their doors to the public as they have been doing each year since 1994.

Under this year’s title, “With hammer, laser and scalpel – tradesmen and high-tech at work”, visitors to the protected historical buildings will be able to witness craftsmen and women at work.

In Bern, masons, restaurateurs and glass painters will show off their talents inside the cathedral.

The guided tours of the cathedral on September 7 could prove among the most popular since the scaffolding is scheduled to be removed in a couple of months, revealing the cathedral tower and its ornate sculptures in all their glory for the first time in years.

Bell ringing

Alpine traditions will be brought to noisy life the same weekend with the Swiss “Scheller and Trychler” festival in the Bernese Oberland resort of Meiringen.

Schellen and Trycheln are the Swiss-German names given to the different bells worn by Swiss cows. On festive occasions across the Swiss Alps, men and boys polish their prize bells and take part in bell-ringing processions.

The highlight of the festival in Meiringen will be an ear-splitting parade of around 200 Scheller and Trychler groups on September 8.

The festival kicks off two days earlier with live music and dance, and a handicraft market where craftsmen will demonstrate bell engraving and decorative stitching techniques used on the wide bell straps.

swissinfo