72625 posts
Hi Kitty1109 and welcome to MySwissAlps!
I don’t have details on farm stays on this site, but have a look here: https://www.myfarm.ch/ en & for Heidi’s farm itself here: http://www.heididorf.c h/en
72625 posts
>> Hello and good morning, I am travelling to Switzerland in late April to early May, and I will be mainly in the Alps area, I am from Japan so the first impression of Alps for me would be Johanna Spyri’s story of Heidi. I was wondering if there are really family owned dairy farms just like in Heidi’s story in the Alps area?
The story of Heidi is set in the canton of Graubünden, in the vicinity of Maienfeld, but there are alpine farms in many areas of Switzerland.
Cows and goats grazing in the high alpine meadows is a summer thing. In late April and early May, they will most likely still be in their winter quarters, either in low altitude fields, or in stalls.
If you ever have the chance to visit Switzerland in early autumn, you might like to see an Alpabzug or désalpe, when decorated cows (and sometimes goats) descend in a procession from the high alpine pastures to their winter quarters before the snow sets in. These events are often held in association with a local farmers’ market and include traditional entertainment.
>> And where would be the best place for me to go in Alps if I would like to see those family farms?
Do you mean actually visit a farm? Some offer farm experiences, but mostly aimed at young children, probably not conducted in English.
Here a a couple of links you could explore:
http://www.interlaken.ch/en/f arm-visits-interlaken.html
http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en-au/adventureoffer-55215.html
http://www.alpenwild.com/trip /grindelwald-and-eigeralp-farm-stay/overview/
http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en-au/living-in-glarus-like-heidi-s-alpoehi.html
Alpenrose
72625 posts
Just about anywhere in rural Switzerland you will find quaint family run dairy farms!