We are planning a trip to the Bern area next year and hope to visit some sites of our Mennonite ancestry. Steffisburg is the area our Kaufman family originated in the 1500's . My question is there a knowledgeable local guide in this area and is there any Mennonite farms who would have lodging . We know of a few sites we would like to visit but would like an informative tour of sites. Thank You
Posted by
Atlanta
199 posts
I would start with checking some of the Mennonite churches in the area you wish to go. Here is one listed.
Our family is from Wengen and some of my family have done tours there. If you want that info let me know and I will check with my brother.
Posted by
Switzerland
317 posts
I stumbled upon this this trail in the Emmental once. You can hike along it and read the markers, etc. This is a link to the brochure for it, or just search “Sumiswald Täuferpfad”
https://www.sumiswald.ch/wAssets/docs/tourismus/Fuehrer-zum-Taeuferpfad_englisch.pdf
Here is a similar thing in Bern
https://stationenweg-bern.ch/en/
This is the conference of Mennonite churches in Switzerland (of which the link that was provided by @newnona is the oldest.
https://www.menno.ch/de/ueber-uns/die-gemeinden/
You won't find large Mennonite communities here like you do in the US and elsewhere, perhaps there will be the odd farmer who is happy to host you. You can contact people at the above links to see if they can direct you.
Earlier this year was the big 500 year event in Zürich, maybe you can find info on the website for that as well.