Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, Zurich
The Swiss National Museum in Zürich. Photo under GFDL.
Location map and aerial view of Schweizerisches Landesmuseum. For a larger interactive view, see our Zurich Map.
Located next to the train station, the Swiss National Museum (Schweizerisches Landesmuseum) in Zürich is a massive and important museum that provides an epic survey of the culture and history of the Swiss people.
History
The museum's vast collection is housed in a 19th-century Neo-Gothic castle. The displays include a large amount of medieval religious art that has not been welcome in Zürich's churches since the Reformation. These exhibits, shown mostly on the ground floor, range from 9th-century Carolingian art to frescoes from the Convent Church of Mustair and 16th-century stained glass from Tanikon Convent.
There is a Zwingli Room about the Swiss Reformation and an exceptional prehistoric section, with some artifacts dating from the 4th millennium BC. The rest of the collection includes a large display of Roman clothing, medieval silverware, 14th-century drinking bowls, and 17th-century china, as well as painted furniture, costumes, and dollhouses of various periods.
A display of weapons and armor shows the methods of Swiss warfare from 800 to 1800. There's also a reconstructed 18th-century apothecary and an exhibit tracing Swiss clockmaking from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
Special exhibitions are presented twice annually, lasting between 3 and 6 months. Themes are always different; a recent one was devoted to Swiss fashion design.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Schweizerisches Landesmuseum; Swiss National Museum |
| Location: | Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland |
| Category: | Museums |
| Faith: | Museum |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 47.37918° N, 8.539982° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Museumstrasse 2, Zürich, Switzerland |
| Phone: | 01/218-65-11 |
| Hours: | Tue-Sun 10:30am-5pm |
| Cost: | 5F adults, 3F students and seniors, special exhibitions 8F-12F |
| Public transport: | Tram 3, 4, 5, 11, 13, or 14 |
Travel Resources
- Zurich Map - our detailed interactive map of Zurich, plus hand-picked links to more
- Zurich Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Zurich
- Zurich Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Zurich Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Zurich Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Zurich Flight Search - compare multiple travel sites to find the lowest airfare to Zurich
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visit (exterior and lobby only; December 18, 2006).
- Rick Steves' Switzerland
- Frommer's Switzerland
.
- The Rough Guide to Switzerland.
Article last updated: 10/26/2009.
