Museums Big and Small with Stories of Hardship and Survival; Celebration and Creation

Good to Know: It is possible to purchase an annual Swiss Museum Pass, valid for free entry to over 500 Swiss museums, or discounted tickets when purchasing a public transport/museum ticket combi-deal. For more info and links go to the bottom of the page.

Schwyz

Schwyz – Forum der Schweizer Geschichte

The town of Schwyz has a very typical Swiss setting. Its centre is full of well-preserved historical buildings. Mountains of all shapes and sizes surround it, towering above green foothills with farms and traditional houses. Adding to this, lakes Zug, Lauerz, Lucerne, Ägerisee and Sihlsee almost encircle the town.

This is a perfect spot to house the story of the Swiss Confederation which goes back more than 700 years.

The museum offers an interactive trail over three floors that starts around 700 years ago. I managed to have a look recently and was fascinated by the stories and exhibits that showed the incredible challenges traders encountered when using the mule trade routes over the Alps. The exhibits are done in such a way that you really get the feel of what life was like in and around the mountains, passes, farms and villages of Switzerland going way back in time and how it went from being like the wild west with its feuds and disorder to becoming a lawful and extremely orderly society.

The museum’s highlights are:

• View of Central Europe – maps and original items showing Europe in the middle ages.
• A large screen with a video of the bridle path through the Splügen Pass. You interact by using a step machine – giving an idea of what it was like to climb a section of the Splügen Pass.
• The Schwarze Stube (black room). This was discovered in a log house dated 1311. You can walk through it and also get an idea of the outside facade and see some domestic items from the time.
• installations that include a forested area, walk way that shows the danger of the bridle paths, a mule, a huge horse and knight and various ancient books, panels and tools – to name just a few of the items.
• Guided Tours are offered – see website for details.
• Temporary Exhibitions are housed on the floor below the rest of the museum, and always worth a look.

Geneva

Ethnography Museum

Permanent Exhibition – Archives of Human Diversity

Geneva’s Ethnography museum (MEG) is found in the Jonction District, in the centre of Geneva. With artists’ installations, large rooms full of treasures and a modern design, this museum is an inviting place to visit.

The large halls inside house over 1,000 objects from the world’s cultures.

There are three sections –

Introduction

All about the origins of Geneva’s ethnographic collections with stories of the adventurers who collected them.

The Continents

Asia

religious icons, writing and power.

Africa

using art to exhibit cultural themes.

The Americas

spanning close to 9,000 years.

Europe

everyday life using cultural and artistic objects.

Oceania

the relationships and exchanges of the indigenous people and the journeys of the Europeans

For more information about each continent go to the MEG website.

Music

The third section is dedicated to music. It includes a collection of musical instruments from around the world, pop culture archives and the study of instruments from different cultures.

The MEG has its own cafe with a terrace that extends into the Plainpalais district (a good place to visit for markets). According to the website, they pride themselves on the quality of their Italian cuisine and friendly staff. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and brunch is available on Sundays. It’s open from 9.30am – 6pm, Tuesday – Sunday

Good to Know: Both the museum and cafe are closed on Mondays.

Graubünden

Val Müstair —- Albula Railway Museum

Kloster St Johann, Müstair – A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Müstair

Müstair village is tucked far away in the Val Müstair, deep in the most eastern part of Graubünden, close to the border with Italy. In the local Romansch, the language unique to Graubünden, Müstair is equivalent to Minster in English – both correspond to the word monastery.

The monastery complex was founded in the 8th Century and is steeped in legend and mystery. According to a well-known legend, Charlemagne was responsible for the founding of the convent. It is said that he was so grateful for his survival after he walked away unharmed from a large snowstorm in the area that he gave instructions for the monastery to be constructed. This complex has only been partially destroyed over the centuries and now has building styles and art treasures from several eras. Nuns have lived in the convent since the 12th century. Convent life, cultivation, the museum and the restoration come together, turning this site into something very special.

Convent Museum

The convent’s museum can be found in the monastery’s fortified Planta Tower (10th century). It holds over 1200 years of art and cultural history within its walls. The Benedictine nuns of Müstair also allow visitors a glimpse inside the convent to see their daily life.

Museum visit

The museum is very atmospheric, giving an authentic peek into the convents past. It starts in the cloister, then goes through to the vast cellar of the Planta Tower before continuing up three floors. The tower houses a ‘convent within the convent’. with reception and living areas, sleeping quarters and prayer areas.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

A deciding factor for listing the complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was down to the wonderfully preserved frescos found in the convent church which dates back to the early middle ages. These are considered to be one of the largest and best-preserved fresco cycles around today.

Here is a video of the Carolingian Convent Church that gives an idea of the stunning art and architecture of this complex.

Bergün – Albula Railway Museum of the UNESCO World Heritage Line

The Bergün railway museum has around 600 exhibits and pays tribute to over 100 years of pioneering achievements in canton Graubünden. These engineering and construction achievements have resulted in the spectacular Rhaetian railway line becoming a UNESCO World Heritage route. The line is also used by the Glacier Express trains which pass through Bergün train station (non-stop)

The museum is found opposite the tracks at Bergün train station & is aimed at rail enthusiasts, families and people interested in the culture and history of this area and railway line. You can find here:

• A driver simulator on a “Crocodile” locomotive.
• A Model Railway
• Workshop
• Special Children’s Tours

Neuchâtel

Musée d’art et d’histoire (MAHN – Museum of Art and History, Neuchâtel)

Further Information:

Special Exhibition –  Jaquet-Droz watchmakers and their Automata.

Demonstrations are normally on the first Sunday of each month, 3 times in the afternoon. Check the website(below) for current information.

Bern

Berne Historical Museum & Einstein Museum

Appenzell

The small museums found in the attractive Appenzell villages are full of tradition and colour. They showcase the agricultural history of this area, along with the living traditions linked to it.

Canton Fribourg

Swiss Museum Pass and Combi Deals

With the Swiss Museum Pass, it is possible to visit over 500 museums for free for a year. These include castles, science museums, art galleries and even the FIFA World Football Museum (Zürich). Each museum mentioned above is included with this pass.

For further details go to the Swiss Museum Pass website or ask at train station ticket counters around the country. Is also posssible to pick up a pamphlet at many train stations.

Good to Know: The public transport website offers combi deals for transport + entrance to certain museums (and other attractions). These combi deals can be found by going to sbb.ch then “Leisure and Holidays” in the menu then adding museums in the activity field. The discounts are from 10-30% for a combination of public transport and entrance fees.