Obersteckholz
Switzerland

"Obersteckholz", residence of Eva and Beat Meyer. Obersteckholz has been home to the Grosse Schweizer Sennenhunde since 1938. Beat's grandfather joined the club that year and soon began breeding Swissies. For three generations the Meyers have been stewards of the breed as well as of farm-life in rural Switzerland. On my trip they graciously provided housing, as well as trips to the train station and mini tours. I enjoyed a farm tour of new "modern" barns with Beat, and a tour of the countryside and breeders with Eva---even a castle on that trip! Besides milking 25 cows, Eva and Beat raise pigs and chickens and of course Eva's Australian favorite, wallabies! In Switzerland it is not unusual for families to remain close-knit and often share the same residence and Obersteckholz is no different. Beat's parents help in the daily chores and share the same roof top.

	The road leading from Langenthal to Obersteckholz is a narrow one! But what beautiful countryside; farms are sometimes close together. The Meyer farm on right and a neighboring farm on left. The barn in the foreground is one continuous building on up to the main house.
Here Beat's cows are grazing the pasture. A good view of the compound, and it's various outbuildings for farm equipment and work shops. They have a small machine shop as well as woodworking shop, of course the main barn for hay, and other various utility sheds.
	This is the opposite end of first photo on this page. Beat's grandfather rebuilt this house in the fifties, concerned for fire in the main house, ravaging the barn which is connected, he decided to build the entire house out of concrete. Wood fire is still today the only source of heat and some cooking is done over fire. Eva has a wonderful old fashioned bake oven right in her kitchen. Not too many folks can bake like that, truly a lost art. This building is very fasinating, 2 foot plus thick walls are very impressive. An architectural element that most impressed me were a set of interior and exterior polished concrete stairs. Oh... I almost forgot the cellar.... where goods are stored for the winter as well as "Swissy Water".
A lover of flowers and gardening, Eva tends a garden of vegetables and flowers, just like we do here in PA. Dutch country :-). And there is the ever watchful Swiss lurking in the shadows.
	Waiting out side the kitchen door. What for I wonder?
The neighbor house typical early Swiss style I just love the way the light hit this house in the evening.

©1999