Welcome to 1799

You have arrived in Betlyland.

This is a living time machine — an immersive village inspired by Gaetano Donizetti's beloved opera "Betly." Here, master artisans craft treasures by hand, actors in period costume bring history to life around every corner, and the music of the 18th century fills the mountain air.

For the next few hours, the modern world fades away. You become a citizen of 1799.

What Awaits You

The moment you step through the ancient wooden gates of Betlyland, your smartphone transforms into something extraordinary — a magical compass that bridges two centuries, guiding you through the wonders of 1799 while capturing every precious moment for eternity. Download the Betlyland App before your visit, and discover how 21st-century technology can make your 18th-century adventure even more immersive, more personal, and more unforgettable. Your smartphone becomes a magical compass bridging two centuries — guiding you through 1799 while capturing every precious moment.

Citizen Passport

A living document that grows with your journey. Collect virtual wax seals as you explore, and unlock the legendary Secret Menu at Betly's Tavern when you complete your adventure.

Interactive Map

An illustrated treasure map in 18th-century engraving style. Find workshops, fresh bread from wood-fired ovens, and perfect photo spots.

Audio Guides

Professional actors reveal hidden stories of every cobblestone and weathered beam. Two to ten minutes of history, legend, and imagination.

Person scanning a QR code on a wooden plaque at an outdoor market, with a historical-looking booklet in their hand and people in the background

Swiss Sports Experience

Two men engaging in a friendly wrestling match outdoors on a beach with a mountain and lake in the background, surrounded by onlookers. Flags and a sign reading 'Schwingen' are visible.
Two people in a park flying and holding Swiss flags on a sunny day, with a river and bridge in the background.
Three people in traditional Bavarian attire examining a rifle inside a rustic cabin overlooking a lake and mountains.

Schwingen

Swiss Wrestling — Discover Switzerland's beloved national sport! Watch powerful athletes compete in traditional Alpine wrestling on a bed of fresh sawdust. Learn the ancient techniques passed down by mountain herdsmen for centuries, then step into the arena and try it yourself. Strength, balance, tradition — this is the heart of Swiss sporting heritage.

Flag Throwing

Fahnenschwingen — Watch the Swiss flag fly! Learn the spectacular art of traditional flag throwing, where the iconic red and white banner soars, spins, and dances through the air. Our master flag swingers will teach you the graceful techniques of this centuries-old tradition. Flags of all sizes available — perfect for the whole family!

Crossbow Shooting

Armbrustschiessen — Be Wilhelm Tell for a day! Take aim with a traditional Swiss crossbow and try to hit the famous apple. Our expert instructors will teach you the techniques of this legendary weapon. Hit the target and earn your official "Tell Shooter" certificate!

THE QUARTER OF HERITAGE

An elderly man demonstrating wood carving to a woman and two children inside a wooden workshop with carved figurines and a scenic view outside.

Alpine Woodcarver

Witness raw timber transform into art. Our master carver shapes local pine and linden wood into traditional figures, decorative pieces, and the iconic Swiss cuckoo clock elements using hand tools and techniques unchanged for centuries.

An elderly man working on pocket watches at a street market stall, showing four tourists the watches in a scenic outdoor European village.

Master Watchmaker

Witness the meticulous art of Swiss horology. Our master craftsman assembles intricate timepieces by hand, continuing a tradition of precision that has defined Swiss excellence for centuries. Each tiny gear and spring placed with steady hands and generations of expertise.

Tourists watching a traditional Swiss folk dance performance on an outdoor stage with a backdrop of mountains. To the left, a stall displays traditional clothing. The performers are dressed in traditional Swiss attire, and the audience is seated on wooden benches.

Swiss Costume Photo Booth

Become Betly, Max & Daniele! — Step into Swiss tradition and become part of the Alpine story! Dress up as our beloved characters: Betly in her beautiful embroidered dirndl with lace blouse and flower crown, Max in his handsome Senn costume with leather shorts and traditional hat, or Daniele in his classic Alpine herder outfit with wool vest and felt cap. Our authentic costumes fit all ages. Professional photographers capture your Swiss mountain moment against stunning Alpine backdrops. Take home an unforgettable memory of your heritage experience!

People gathered around a wooden stall selling traditional clothing at an outdoor market, with mannequins dressed in folk costumes and a sign reading 'Appenzeller Tracht'.

Tracht Costume Artisan

Preserving Switzerland's textile heritage stitch by stitch. Our costume maker demonstrates the intricate embroidery, weaving, and assembly of authentic regional Tracht — the traditional dress that tells the story of Swiss cantonal identity and Alpine culture.

Woodworkers demonstrating traditional bamboo flute making at an outdoor festival, with onlookers watching.

Alphorn Master Craftsman

Witness the creation of Switzerland's most iconic instrument. Our master craftsman shapes the mighty Alphorn from a single curved spruce tree, carefully selected from steep Alpine slopes where natural growth creates the perfect bend. Using traditional hand tools — axes, drawknives, and gouges — he hollows and shapes the wood over months of patient work, creating instruments that have echoed across Swiss valleys for over 500 years. Each Alphorn carries the voice of the mountains.

A blacksmith at a market stall working on a piece of jewelry with a hammer and anvil, surrounded by various finished metal crafts including belts and bells, with onlookers watching.

Cowbell Maker

Hear the sound of the Swiss Alps! Our master bell maker continues an ancient tradition, hand-forging the iconic Trycheln and Schellen that echo across mountain pastures. Watch as raw metal transforms into resonant bells — each one hammered, tuned, and fitted with a hand-carved wooden collar and leather strap. These are the voices of Alpine summers, calling cows home for centuries.

A woman dressed in vintage clothing sits outside a wooden shop with silhouette portraits on display. A young girl in pink is sitting opposite her, while a woman and a man stand nearby taking a photo of the scene.

Scherenschnitt Master

Discover the treasured Swiss folk art of paper cutting, a tradition dating back to the 17th century. With remarkable patience and precision, our artist transforms simple black paper into breathtaking keepsakes. Sit for just a few minutes and watch as skilled scissors capture your profile freehand — no sketches, no tracing, just steady hands and centuries of tradition. Take home your unique shadow portrait, a charming Alpine memory to treasure forever.

People at an outdoor food market with a woman handing out cheese, a man cooking with a large pot over fire, and a crowd of onlookers in a scenic mountain village setting.

Alpine Cheesemakers

Experience the ancient art of Swiss cheese making. Our artisan couple transforms fresh mountain milk into creamy wheels using copper cauldrons, wooden molds, and time-honored recipes from the high Alps. Taste tradition in every bite.

Crowd at a Swiss artisan chocolate booth during a cooking show and tasting event, with mountains and traditional Swiss chalets in the background.

Master Chocolatier

Discover the secrets of Swiss chocolate perfection. Our chocolatier tempers, molds, and decorates exquisite confections by hand, transforming the finest cocoa into edible works of art. The sweet heart of Swiss tradition.

Betly

A Charming Comic Opera for the Whole Family

Betly is a one-act comic opera (opera giocosa) composed by Gaetano Donizetti in 1836. Set in the Swiss Alps, this charming work tells the story of the independent and spirited Betly, who initially resists marriage but eventually falls for the devoted soldier Daniel.

Our adaptation brings this beloved opera to life in its natural setting - the very Swiss alpine landscape that inspired its creation - offering audiences a truly immersive cultural experience.

Scene from a theatrical performance of the musical 'The Sound of Music,' featuring a woman in traditional clothing kneeling on the grass and another woman aiming a rifle from the stage area, with children and a red picnic table with a flower arrangement visible in the background.
A theatrical stage performance with actors in costume, a man holding a bouquet, and others in period attire, with set pieces resembling a house and a tower, under theatrical lighting.

READY FOR YOUR SWISS ADVENTURE?