Mitholz has been dealt a double blow: in 1947 a military ammunition depot exploded in this unassuming village in the Bernese Oberland. Nine people died and numerous houses were destroyed. In 2020 the Swiss Federal Council decided to retrieve the munitions that remained entombed in the mountain. This will necessitate the village residents leaving their homes in ten years’ time – and they will not be able to return for another ten years. In its next major exhibition, the Swiss Alpine Museum will accompany the people of Mitholz as they come to terms with the issues. After their initial shock and sense of helplessness, how can they adjust to the idea of a new (temporary) place to live?

Parallel to the residents’ emotional journey, “Adieu Mitholz” traces the steps involved in evacuating the village and explores themes that are on everyone’s minds, such as how we deal with dangerous waste, our attitude to risk, and our accountability to future generations. Bearing in mind the fragile relationship between urban areas and mountainous regions, one thing we can say for sure is that Mitholz affects us all.