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Art Museums of Switzerland

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There is a wide range of museums speckled throughout Switzerland. From noise making art, to buddhist relics, and some of the best art museums in the world even a rainy day can be made into a grand adventure. We’ve selected some of our favorites to add to your itinerary!

Kunsthaus Zürich 📍 Zürich

Distinguished by its collection of Swiss fine art, the Kunsthaus Zurich has evolved into the cultural institution it is today thanks to the continued collaboration & contributions of Zurich’s artistic community. Its origins began the same way as many creative endeavors have: when a group of friends decided to get together to talk about art.

 

Museum Rietberg 📍 Zürich

With a collection showcasing art from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania, the Museum Rietberg stands as Switzerland’s premier museum dedicated to non-European art. Home to nearly 33,000 objects in its collections, most of which are on public display, you might want to dedicate a day or two to explore.

Museum für Gestaltung Zürich 📍 Zürich

This brutalist setting serves as a platform for both Swiss and international design, with an emphasis on innovation and cultural relevance. The Museum für Gestaltung Zürich aims to educate and inspire visitors about the impact of design on society, highlighting its evolution and diverse applications – it does so through the works on the wall, as well as the beautiful design of the space itself. Just don’t forget to check out the basement installation, it’s well worth the meander.

Fotomuseum Winterthur 📍 Winterthur

The Fotomuseum Winterthur is dedicated to showcasing the works of emerging and established photographers from all over the world. It focuses on contemporary forms of photography and explores how they are applied in art, in everyday life or as an activist tool. And if you were wondering, yes, photography inside is encouraged!

Museum Tinguely 📍 Basel

The Museum Tinguely celebrates Swiss artist Jean Tinguely’s kinetic art, or art that involves movement. It houses a diverse collection of Tinguely’s whimsical and interactive sculptures, showing his unique approach to art through movement and sound. Fun fact: Many of the sculptures have a button you can press to interact with the art, some are a little louder than others, so you may want to bring a pair of earplugs just in case!

Kunstmuseum Basel 📍 Basel

This is easel-y one of the most marvelous art spaces in the city. Dating back to 1661, the Kunstmuseum is the oldest public art gallery on earth! AKA: It was the very first art gallery open to the public, beating out the Louvre in Paris by nearly a century and a half. The museum’s collection of classical art colors the Kunstmuseum as one of the finest collections anywhere in the world and spans three separate buildings, so make sure to block enough time on the itinerary for this gem. And don’t worry, their cafe will give you enough sustenance to get through the collection.

Fun Fact: There is a “secret” tunnel connecting the buildings which is an artistic experience in and of itself – and also helpful on days when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Fondation Beyeler 📍 Basel

Founded by art collectors Ernst and Hildy Beyeler, the Foundation Beyer showcases works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Andy Warhol. Located in the middle of beautiful Berower Park, visitors can find sculptures that sit among the serene natural backdrop of the foothills of the Black Forest. Not too shabby.

Zentrum Paul Klee 📍 Bern

The Zentrum Paul Klee is the world’s most important center for research into Paul Klee’s life and work, and has one of the most significant collections of the artist’s drawings, watercolors and paintings. Visitors can immerse themselves in the life and work of the artist in the permanent exhibition: Kosmos Klee, The Collection. Some 80 rotating and chronologically organized works, biographical photos and films as well as archive material provide an overview of Klee’s artistic development and his personal surroundings. FWIW, we also had a lot of fun in the gift shop here 🙂

MASI Lugano 📍 Lugano

Founded in 2015, MASI Lugano is an art museum that prides itself on its collection of pieces spanning from the late 15th century to today. The museum celebrates artists both local and international, all of whom some connection to the local area!

Plateforme 10 📍 Lausanne

Platforme 10 is home to three museums: Photo Elysée, one of the world’s leading photography museums; mudac (Musée cantonal de design et d’arts appliqués contemporains) dedicated to design in French-speaking Switzerland; and Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne which features the works from iconic Renaissance-era pieces to contemporary art.

MAMCO Genève 📍 Geneva

MAMCO is Switzerland’s largest contemporary art museum. It is housed in a former factory building and features art from the 1960s to today. MAMCO is home to over 6,000 works and celebrates both Swiss and international artists – it also happens to be down the street from a very fun market.

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