After two years of work, The Barry Foundation opened the doors to Barryland today, Thursday 26 June. There was an air of celebration at the world’s first theme park dedicated to St. Bernards. Designed as a unique, modern and immersive space in Martigny in Valais, it is a key step in highlighting this symbolic breed. Patricia Constantin, President of the Grand Council of Valais, Alain Dubois, Head of the Valais Cultural Department, David Martinetti, Vice President of the City of Martigny, and Damian Constantin, Director of Valais/Wallis Promotion, attended the official opening of Barryland, alongside many other leading figures and an enthusiastic crowd.
“The work ran on time and to schedule. We arranged to open to the public at the end of June and… here we are!”, says a delighted Jean-Maurice Tornay, President of The Barry Foundation and head of the project, addressing the first visitors gathered in front of a brand-new building. The foundation is replacing its former historic museum and is responding to growing interest from the public, both within and outside of Switzerland. A competitive tourist offering with an unprecedented living museum, 14 new job positions and an expanded restaurant are all key parts of the project.
The new park has been financed by a combination of the foundation’s own funds and a campaign to raise dedicated funds. Today, Barryland is opening its doors thanks to strong commitment from many companies, foundations, public bodies and, of course, thanks to indispensable support from individual donors. In line with the commitments made and thanks to these efforts, the budget of CHF 24 million was managed successfully. An additional CHF 1.5 million was assigned by the steering committee to finance essential activities for the project.
A beautiful building
Built in the shape of a dog paw print, the space stretches over 2,400 m² and integrates seamlessly with the 22,000 m² park, offering the St. Bernards the perfect place to live happily. Following a tender process, the Barryland building project was awarded to architects from GAME in Martigny. They boldly rose to the challenge, in particular with concrete curved walls on two levels and a fully self-supporting green roof. “Over 90 companies worked on the project and 70% come from the region”, underscores the Director of Barryland, Mélanie Glassey-Roth.
With five thematic and captivating universes, each visitor can enjoy a fun and interactive experience, immersing themselves in the history and myths surrounding the St. Bernard, while discovering the dog’s unique traits. Visitors also have the chance to observe the dogs in their natural environment and to watch closely how much they are cared for every day. “Each visit offers an immersive experience lasting over three hours”, adds Mélanie Glassey-Roth, enthusiastically.
With this ambitious project, The Barry Foundation is reinforcing its commitment to St. Bernards and to preserving this symbolic breed, while positioning Martigny as an unmissable place for animal lovers and Alpine heritage. “The city has just grown and gained in quality as a hub for museums and culture”, confirms David Martinetti, Vice President of Martigny.
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