In a tourist resort there is always something going on for tourists. And the locals also benefit from this. And we are locals for two years as well. (I’m not bringing up the topic of overtourism; even if it is noticeable and visible in Kandersteg during the summer holidays!)

But let’s go back to the positive – to the Alphorn Days, which take place in Kandersteg at the end of August. We found out about it in advance, as we read also the local newspaper. And there you not only find out who was born and died, but also everything about events in the Kandertal. And of course, Brigitta’s attentive eyes didn’t miss the reference to the 11. Alphorn Days. Even if we had, we would have heard the melancholy sound of the alphorns in the evening and would have followed the sound.

A few days ago, this sound drew us to the valley station of the Öschinensee cable car. We sat there for an hour, had an aperitif and listened to the two alphorn players playing. It was an experience that not only pleased us but also the hikers who returned in the evening – some of them in flip-flops!

What we also learned that evening is that Swiss mercenary in the 16th and 17th centuries got so homesick when they heard an alphorn that the officers forbade the possession of alphorns! I have to admit; that the same thing would have happened to me as a mercenary. (Brigitta was so impressed by the sound that she immediately tried out playing the alphorn!)

PS: If you want to know more about the alphorn, read here.