Lucerne is home to a rich and diverse collection of museums, covering a wide range of subjects and themes. From art and history to natural history and technology, there is something for everyone in Lucerne's museums. Visitors can explore the city's rich cultural heritage, learn about the area's natural history, or immerse themselves in a world of art and creativity. The museums of Lucerne feature world-class collections, cutting-edge exhibitions, and innovative interactive displays, making them a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the arts and sciences. Whether you are a local resident or a visitor to the city, Lucerne's museums offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich history and culture of Switzerland, and provide a truly enriching experience.
The Swiss Museum of Transport is Switzerland's most popular museum. It tells the story of the development of transport and mobility by road, rail and water as well as in the air and outer space - and how it affects everyday life. Look at more than 3,000 objects like planes, steam engines and cars in the huge halls. In the Swissarena you can walk around on an aerial photograph of Switzerland with a scale of 1:20,000 - or be a TV presenter for a couple of minutes in the communication section and take home a recording of your performance. This museum is very much hands-on and in every section there are special activities for children - a good choice for the family not just on a rainy day! A planetarium and the Swiss Chocolate Adventure are on site too.
Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883), famed German composer and re-inventor of the opera, lived in this house with his family for six years and entertained illustrious guests here until he left to found the Bayreuth festival. The ground floor of their handsome home on the lake tells the story of Wagner's time in Lucerne. Café on site, occasional concerts.
This art collection concentrates on two very different figureheads of classical modernism: exuberant Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973) and quiet, intense Paul Klee (1879 - 1940), the latter of Swiss origins. The basement is entirely dedicated to Klee's mostly small-scale, delicate works, while the ground floor houses a collection of Picassos from all periods of his work. The final, upper floor displays other modernist artists such as Chagall or Braque as well as some Picasso prints including some of Angela Rosengart. She is the founder of the museum and, like her father, she had a long and intense friendship with Picasso. Her father Siegfried Rosengart was an art dealer who confessed that it pained him to sell pieces he loved, and Angela who worked with him from 1957 on and still lives in Lucerne today had the same failing - luckily. A gem among Lucerne's museums. Notes on the works are available in German, English and French.
The Bourbaki Panorama is basically one huge painting - but the museum around it really teases out the exciting story it has to tell. The circular painting, which is 114 metres around and 10 metres high, was painted in 1881 by Edouard Castres. It depicts a major military event of 1871 - 87,000 defeated French soldiers crossed the border into Switzerland, fleeing the Prussians. In Switzerland the soldiers were disarmed and looked after by the government and the public, giving rise to a humanitarian tradition. Paintings like this one were hugely popular at the time, before the advent of cinema, let alone 3D cinema and the like! In the original panorama building from 1889 you can view this 19th-century attraction, as well as learn more about the event behind it thanks to the museum's very state-of-the-art exhibition and film. Most text is in English and French as well as German, as are guided tours.
Gletschergarten means glacier garden, and this Lucerne institution consists of three elements: a geological site formed by a glacier, a museum next door and a mirror maze dating from 1896. This quaint jumble of attractions is very 19th century, making this museum a museum piece in itself - an echo from a bygone era. The geological site is a set of deep funnels and channels worn into the bedrock by the glacier that once covered this area. Walk along the footbridges and read how these formations came into existence. The museum is housed in a building with Baroque, Renaissance and Biedermeier rooms, which are exquisite but not tied into a larger concept. The larger part of the exhibition consists of relief models of Switzerland and exhibits about glaciers, climate change and avalanches. The mirror maze finally is pure and simple 19th century fair-ground fun. But it still works, and children particularly love this part. Watch your nose!
Comments