Events & Agenda
"Our Mountains" - When Wood Tells the Story of the Alpine Pastures
An exhibition at the Maison de la Tête de Moine
There is a memory in wood that very few hands know how to read. The memory of the forest, of time, of altitude. The memory of people who learned to listen to the mountain before carving it.
Inaugurated at the Fête de la Tête de Moine 2026, the exhibition Our Mountains is now on display at the Maison de la Tête de Moine until the end of the year. An invitation to slow down, to look, and to feel.
Stefan & Daniel - Swiss Alpine Essence
Behind these three-dimensional mountain reliefs in solid wood are two Swiss craftspeople and one shared conviction: the mountain is not reproduced, it is summoned.
Stefan grew up where the Gantrisch traces the evening horizon. The mountain lives within him like an inner compass. A craftsman of the soul as much as of wood, he transforms every species into a landscape, every grain into a valley, every knot into a summit. "You don't carve the mountain. You give back what it gave you."
Daniel has chosen slowness, the slowness of drying wood, of the gouge following the grain, of the mountain revealing itself layer by layer. His reliefs don't reproduce the Alps: they conjure them, in all their silence and verticality. Each piece he creates is a conversation between craftsman and material, a wordless dialogue in which the massif takes shape beneath patient, passionate hands. "There is a memory in wood that very few hands know how to read."
Together, they founded Swiss Alpine Essence, a Swiss artisan house dedicated to creating handcrafted 3D reliefs in solid wood.
Why this exhibition feels at home here
Tête de Moine is a mountain cheese. A product that carries within it the land, the expertise, and the patience. The works of Stefan and Daniel speak the same language: that of people who work with raw materials, who respect what nature offers, and who transform the alpine pastures into something unique and enduring.
Our Mountains is the natural meeting of two exceptional crafts, cheese and wood, born from the same landscape.
Meeting room
Discover a unique space in the heart of the Tête de Moine, where professionalism meets authenticity. Our modern meeting room at the Maison de la Tête de Moine is the ideal setting for transforming your meetings or trip into exceptional moments.
Perfectly equipped with a projector, audio system, flip chart and adaptable table configurations, our room can be adapted to all your professional needs.
For CHF 250 a day, you can offer your team a productive working experience in a friendly environment that naturally stimulates creativity and encourages constructive exchanges.
And because the best ideas are often born around a convivial table, we also offer you the chance to enjoy a delicious fondue and visit our museum at a preferential rate.
Book your next session now.
Monk's Apartment
Experience a unique stay in the heart of Bellelay! Our comfortable and well-appointed apartment offers you a perfect getaway close to picturesque trails and historic attractions.
Our one and only flat in the Maison de la Tête de Moine in Bellelay is now available for rent. This 36m² industrial-style flat, ideally located close to hiking and cycling trails and next to the historic abbey church, is perfect for a relaxing stay in the heart of nature. Take advantage of the proximity of Bellelay's enchanting landscapes for unforgettable hikes and bike rides.
Reservation Monk's Apartment (J3L)
The apartment has a double bedroom with a 180x200cm boxspring bed and a cozy living room with a 140x200cm sofa bed, offering a comfortable space to relax or to accommodate additional guests. The modern bathroom, equipped with a shower, combines comfort and practicality. The kitchen, although simply fitted, is fully equipped, allowing you to prepare your meals with ease.
This apartment is designed to meet all your needs, with quality beds and functional living spaces. Whether you are a couple, a family or friends, you will quickly feel at home in this warm environment.
Do not hesitate to book now to experience a unique stay in Bellelay, where the charm of the Maison de la Tête de Moine and the natural beauty of the surroundings await you. We look forward to welcoming you!
Libell'lay - Bellelay nature trail
The new Libell’lay nature trail invites visitors to discover the natural wonders of Bellelay from an entirely different perspective - that of the dragonfly.
The only nature trail in Switzerland dedicated to these fascinating insects with a name reminiscent of the fairy tales of childhood. Its 4.8 km wanders between lakes, rivers and marshes, an ideal environment for dragonflies. The trail includes 12 stations, each one dealing with a different aspect of the dragonfly, for example their voracious appetite, their extraordinary eyesight or their flight which inspired the invention of the helicopter. Taking the idea of the naturalist acting as a detective as its underlying theme, there is an activity to be completed and a puzzle to be solved at most of the stations.
At the Tête de Moine, the nature trail’s starting and finishing point, visitors can purchase a field notebook where they can record their answers to the questions and gather additional information to that already contained in the panels along the route. And there is a nice present waiting for nature’s detectives at the end of the walk!
Maison de la Tête de Moine
Le Domaine 1
2713 Bellelay, Switzerland
Phone +41 32 484 03 16