European Day of Restoration: Saved – Two Community Flags from Blatten

Description

Saved – Two Community Flags from Blatten During the devastating mountain landslide on May 28, 2025, in Blatten (Lötschental, VS), the majority of the old village, including the church and local cultural assets, was buried under debris and ice or flooded. Two community flags, one from 1895 and another from 1969, were saved from the town hall. However, they were severely damaged. The more recent of the two flags was restored this year at the Abegg Foundation. The goal was not only to clean, secure, and enable future presentation of the flags but also to stabilize them enough so they could be used again on Corpus Christi 2026. Textile restorer Caroline Pilière discusses the challenges involved and presents the measures taken. Mathias Ebener, community flag bearer of Blatten, provides insights into the significance of the flags, their traditional use, and their role in festive occasions in Lötschental. The still unrestored 1895 flag will also be discussed. The event takes place as part of the European Day of Restoration.