Unspunnenfest
unspunnenfest festival held town interlaken switzerland near old ruin unspunnen castle bernese alp approximately every twelve year recently festival highlight traditional swiss culture feature competition steinstossen stone throwing schwingen wrestling yodeling stonethrowing competition us kg lb stone known unspunnenstein unspunnen stone made aare granite hasli valley history festival date back th century meadow unspunnen castle local lord burkard von unspunnen founder city bern berchtold v von zähringen able reconcile difference first official festival held august similar effort france invaded switzerland event seen way unifying nation furthermore people bernese oberland formed separate canton helvetic republic leading mayor bern niklaus friedrich von mülinen interlaken chief magistrate franz ludwig thormann others organize festival effort bring side together unfortunately successful regard conflict continue exist rural urban dweller today culturally financially however first two festival great success swiss heritage society swiss traditional costume association owe origin unspunnen festival second competition held original lb kg stone lost intervening year festival used lb kg stone third festival organized centenary using stone date carved however festival known bavarian traditional costume cowherd festival held regular interval unspunnenfest staged regular interval stone stolen member belier group jura separatist unterseen museum sunday june held political hostage new stone found one weighing kg similar stone used competition since stone currently found counter hall interlaken ubs bank photographer led private residence brussels shown claimed unspunnenstein took photograph evidence member interlaken gymnastic club commissioned replacement stone identified authentic stone delivered mysteriously shawne fieldingborer americanborn wife swiss ambassador berlin packaged confectionery festival held village saignelégier canton jura august however stone damaged unhappy result swiss national referendum swiss population decided participation european economic area eea belier group engraved twelve star stone symbolising european union well date referendum december emblem result stone lost kg lb weight could longer used competition stone stolen august hotel interlaken small stone left behind thief bearing emblem jura frenchspeaking separatist claim responsibility time issue statement support theft whereabouts remain unknown excessive flooding caused next installment unspunnenfest postponed full year finally held september steinstossen world record holder swiss carpenter markus maire threw kg lb unspunnenstein metre ft competition recent competition took place next scheduled list individual rock unspunnenfest web site german