Justistal
The Justistal lies in the Bernese Oberland between the steeply rising flanks of the Sigriswilergrat in the NE and the Güggisgrat in the SW. The Grönbach, which flows into Lake Thun in Merligen, flows through the 7.5 km long valley . The valley end is formed by the Sichle ( Sichelpass ) (1679 m), a pass crossing into the Eriz .
According to legend, the name Justistal comes from Justus, the companion of Saint Beatus . While Beatus lived in a cave above Lake Thun, Justus is said to have ended up in this mountain valley.
traffic
The Justistal can be reached from Beatenberg , as well as from Sigriswil , via a narrow paved mountain road. The route from Beatenberg leads through a tunnel and along the steep flank of the Niederhorn, with a view of Lake Thun and the opposite Spiez. Both roads end in Grön, the foremost alp in the valley. The Justistal is not accessible by public transport.
regional customs
Every year on the Friday before or after the Federal Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer Day in September, the cheese portion is known far beyond the region. On this day, the cheese wheels produced in the summer are distributed to the cattle owners using a special lottery procedure, who can then sell them on. Every farmer who has mountain rights can give a cow to the alp for this, 1 mountain right = 1 cow; 200 kg milk = 1 hem, 4 hems = 1 lot, 1 lot = approx. 7 loaves of 10 kg each.
The cheeses are taken from the spychers (storehouses) and piled up per lot. If a cow delivers 1500 kg of milk during the entire alpine season, the owner of the Chästeilet is entitled to 7.5 hems of cheese, i.e. 1 lot plus 3.5 hems.
The festival ends with the animals leaving the Alps. The cows, which produced the most milk during the alpine summer, are richly decorated.
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Coordinates: 46 ° 43 ′ 20 " N , 7 ° 46 ′ 34" E ; CH1903: 625 800 / 174 600