Ballyana – Sammlung Industriekultur
Industrial museum in the former Bally ribbon weaving mill in Schönenwerd with looms, shoe production and company history, open two Sundays a month.
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About the museum
After the shoe factory Bally was sold in 1999 and its operations in Schönenwerd were closed, a large part of the industrial heritage was at risk of being lost. For this reason, the Foundation for Bally Family and Company History, which runs the Ballyana Archive, was established in 2000; in 2010 the Ballyana association was added, bringing together volunteers and interested people.
Since 2010 the museum has been located in the shed hall of the former Bally ribbon weaving mill on Schachenstrasse. Visitors can see old textile and shoe production machinery here, as well as shoes, ribbons, boxes and advertising, along with the history of the Bally entrepreneurial family. The archive also preserves company records, plans, photographs and private papers spanning roughly two centuries.
Exhibition themes include architecture, energy, fashion, advertising, social benefits and the Bally Park. Guided tours also lead through the historic buildings and the publicly accessible park. Since the company's own Bally Shoe Museum in the Haus zum Felsgarten was closed, Ballyana has been the place in Schönenwerd where Bally's industrial history is shown to the public.
Highlights
- Historic textile and shoe production machinery in the former ribbon weaving mill's shed hall
- History of the entrepreneurial family and the Bally company
- Shoes, ribbons, boxes and advertising from the factory's history
- Guided tours of the exhibition, historic buildings and Bally Park
- Children's tour "Walking in Someone Else's Shoes"
Permanent exhibition
- Dauerausstellung Industriekultur – Old textile and shoe production machinery in the former production hall of the Bally ribbon weaving mill, plus shoes, ribbons, boxes, advertising and the history of the Bally company and family.
- Founded
- 2010
- Operated by
- Stiftung Ballyana
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 10 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | CHF 5Children and young people aged 10 to 18. |
| Groups | –Guided tour CHF 80 per group (maximum 20 people) plus admission; for 21–40 people, two guides. |
| Guided tour of the exhibition (approx. 60 minutes, max. 20 people) | CHF 80Plus CHF 10 admission per person. |
| Guided tour of Bally Park (approx. 90 minutes, up to approx. 30 people) | CHF 180Meeting point is usually at the side entrance of the former boarding house, Parkstrasse 36. |
| Children's tour for school classes (approx. 2 hours) | CHF 180Flat rate including admission for children and teachers. |
Payment in cash or by TWINT.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The children's tour "Walking in Someone Else's Shoes" (for children from 3rd grade, approx. ages 9–12) includes a shoe fashion show, pretend shoe shopping and shoe-themed games; for families it is available on request on the Sundays when the museum is open. Educational materials are available for school classes.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Schönenwerd Schachenstrasse
The bus stop "Schönenwerd Schachenstrasse" is right next to Ballyana.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No parking of its own; paid parking is available at Fashion Fish, and there are further parking spaces in the municipality.
Ballyana is located at the eastern end of Schönenwerd towards Aarau (Schachenstrasse 24, Building F).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Aperitifs can be arranged in advance after tours (e.g. Zwicker aperitif CHF 18.50 or small aperitif CHF 9 per person, with wine from Tenuta Bally).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A guided tour of the exhibition takes a good 60 minutes; the museum recommends allowing about 90 minutes. Register for tours and aperitifs at ballyana@ballyana.ch or +41 62 849 91 09. Park tours are offered mainly in German; some guides also lead tours in French, English or Italian. |
