REVIEW: When pictures say more than words. Never mind that your German might not be fluent; this collection it's certainly a good enough reason to look back at history.

Elsi Frautschi and Bruno Kernen have published a book with historical postcards and impressive photos from Schönried and Saanenmöser.

Open the book, and let the journey through time begin – through a Schönried and Saanenmöser that lies many years in the past and yet gives one the feeling that it was only yesterday.

Schönried & Saanenmöser in the old days is a recently published book with 216 pages filled with postcards from times gone by – the oldest dating back to 1898. It is a personal collection of former sporting goods entrepreneur Elsi Frautschi, hotelier, and ex-ski racer Bruno Kernen, who have carefully preserved these collector's items for 55 years.

The postcards are joined by many other photos that tell countless stories from when snow sports enthusiasts were still transported up the mountain by funi; skiers took part in the ski club races on wooden slats, and tourism – also from abroad – became increasingly important in the region.

Even though the pictures from days ago speak volumes, it is even more exciting to read how contemporary witnesses experienced the Bäuerten and its change. The publicist and author Hans R. Amrein spoke with eleven people from Schönried and Saanenmöser. They recorded their life stories and anecdotes from earlier times, including Susi and Heini Schwenter Anni Aellen, Peter Lanz and Olga Kernen.

The latter, for example, tells of the time when she took over the Hotel Bahnhof from her parents in 1965 and how her mother helped her. Alfred Mösching talks about his 35 years as manager of the Schönried dairy and how people came by every day with a little milk book and kettle. Heini Aellen also experienced a lot as a postman: “Once there was a farmer and post office customer. He fell ill and could no longer look after his cows. So I stood in for him at short notice, milked the cows and mucked out the stable. Up to that point, we were political opponents, but since my stint in the stables, we were best friends.”

The book is enriched with informative texts about the transformation of Schönried, the history of the Schönried Ski Club, and exciting skiing and railway stories.

BASED ON AVS/JOCELYNE PAGE

Curious to see more? Then explore the publishers link to a sneak peak