This is a landmark that should be included in a tour of Bern. The Bern Historical Museum, also known as Bernisches historisches Museum, is the second largest historical museum in Switzerland. It was built in 1894 by the architect André Lambert. The building is quite special due to the styles that the architect chose to incorporate. He took his inspiration from buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries as well as many historic castles. The main purpose of the museum is to display collections directly related to the history of Bern, from its distant past to its present day. There are also other exhibits from parts of Asia and Egypt. This is a beautiful and interesting museum and should be considered for any sightseeing trip while staying in Bern.
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Permanent Exhibitions in the Historical Museum Bern
Art from Asia, Oceania and the American Indians
Inside the museum, you will discover more than 250,000 objects on display, including items from America, Asia Oceania and Egypt as well as world-renowned artifacts from Swiss heritage.
There are precious objects from China, India, Japan, South East Asia and Tibet that throw light on conceptions of the world, oriental cultures and artistic forms of expression.
The Indian culture of North and Central America is varied, as the exhibitions focusing on American Indian life will show.
The Bern Historical Museum will show you selected objects and pictorial documents ranging in date from pre-Columbian times until to the 19th century.
You will also see some outstanding individual objects, such as the elaborately painted bison robe of Mato Topé, a legendary chief of the Mandan tribe. It shows the very different lifestyles of the Indian societies, which document their sometimes turbulent history.
Also on display at the museum is a huge collection of objects from prehistory to modern times of which some are of particular attention. The Koenigsfeld Diptych, the Burgundian Tapestries and the Bronze Hydria from Grächwil as well as a series of ethnographic and numismatic collections are all internationally recognized treasures.
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Stone Age, Celts and Romans
There are also artifacts from the Stone Age, Celtic and Roman times. For the first time, the Bern Historical Museum together with the Archeological Service of the Canton of Bern bring together their most valuable treasures in a wide-ranging exhibition.
Bern and the 20th century
Extremely interesting is the look at Bern during the 20th century. More than 100 pioneers and their exploits tell the history of the Canton of Bern and the capital of Switzerland.
The museum is supported by the Canton, the city and the Municipal authority. Additionally, it also enjoys the support through the regional cultural conference of the joint local authority.
Opening Hours of the Historical Museum
- Tues to Sun 10.00 – 17.00
- Monday closed
- The Museum is open from 10.00 to 17.00 (also on all holidays, including those that fall on a Monday, except for Christmas day).
