Mayenfeld

Mayenfeld is the old village from which the path toward the mountain heights begins. Its position at the valley’s edge makes it the starting point for Heidi and Dete’s ascent, a passage from settled lowland surroundings into increasingly wild alpine terrain.

Setting and Route

An old, pleasantly situated village, Mayenfeld stands below the mountains that look down over the valley. A footpath winds from it through green, shady meadows to the foot of the mountains, then climbs steeply toward the summits. As the path rises, the landscape grows wilder, and the air carries the fragrance of short grass and sturdy mountain plants.

Place in Heidi and Dete’s Journey

On a clear, sunny morning in June, Dete leads Heidi up the narrow mountain path. The child is dressed in several layers and a thick red woollen shawl despite the heat, and she labors uphill in heavy mountain shoes. They have left the valley roughly an hour behind them when they reach Dorfli, halfway up the mountain. The journey therefore establishes Mayenfeld as the lowland point of departure, distinct from the hamlet farther up the route.

Dete’s journey to Mayenfeld had begun in Ragatz, where she worked as a chambermaid after leaving Dorfli following her mother’s death. A friend gave Dete and Heidi a lift in a hay-cart as far as Mayenfeld; from there, they continued on foot. The change from cart to steep path makes Mayenfeld a practical threshold in their journey as well as its geographical starting point for the climb.