Zurich Museums

You are in: Main Page » Sightseeing » Page 1 » P2 » P3
» P4 » P5 » P6 » P7 » Museums P1

Anthropological Institute & Museum

University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0) 44 635 5411, Website: www.aim.unizh.ch, Open: Tue-Sun 10am-4pm (free entry), Tram 7, 14 to << Milchbuck >> or Tram 10 to << Irchel >> then look for "Building Y10"
Providing an overview of human evolution from Australopithecus to Modern Man, the museum (which belongs to the University Of Zürich's Faculty of Science) features a varied collection of animal skulls, touch-screens - which explore the world of monkeys - and displays to explain the function of the cerebral cortex.

Archaeological Collection of the University of Zürich

Rämistrasse 73, CH-8006 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0) 44 634 2811, Website: www.archinst.unizh.ch, Open: Tue-Fri 1pm-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm, Mon closed, Tram 6, 10 to << ETH/Universitätsspital >>
Enter the fascinating world of ancient cultures at the University of Zürich's Archaeological Collection, which provides insight into just how the Neo-Babylonian kings lived, the culture of the Etruscans (including a wide-selection of Etruscan ware) and the death rituals of the ancient Egyptians. In addition, a varied collection of intricately painted Greek vases and Romans tools can be found on display, along with an entire mummy and statuettes of ancient Egyptian deities.

Clock and Watch Museum Beyer

Bahnhofstrasse 31, CH-8001 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0)43 344 63 63, E-mail: museum@beyer-ch.com, Website: www.beyer-ch.com, Open: Mon-Fri 2pm-6pm; Sat-Sun closed, Take Tram 6, 7, 11 or 13 to << Bahnhofstrasse/Hauptbahnhof >>
Established in 1970 by Theodor Beyer, Zürich's Clock and Watch museum displays a wide-range of time pieces dating from 1400 BC to the present day. Housed in the basement of his family's clock-and-watch shop (which the Beyer's have owned since 1760) the museum boasts over 500 exhibits, including primitive sundials, Renaissance table clocks, Art Nouveau ladies watches, grandfather clocks and watches that can check their own accuracy via an atomic clock. Arranged chronologically, you'll also find here astronomic and geographical tools, marine chronometers and several gunpowder flasks. Recommended.

Coninx Museum

Heuelstrasse 32, Zürich, Tel: +41 (0)44 252 04 68, E-mail: info@coninx-museum.ch, Website: www.coninx-museum.ch, Open: Sep 30th 2005-Apr 23rd 2006, Tue 2pm-8pm, Wed-Sat 2pm-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm, Mon closed, Tram 3, 8 to << Römerhof >> then Dolderbahn to << Titlisstrasse >>
Located in the former home of its founder Werner Coninx (1911-1980), the Coninx museum is one of Switzerland's largest (private) art collections. The villa itself was built in 1912 for his father Otto Coninx-Girardet by Pleghard and Haefeli and served as a comfortable country retreat, with a garden extension subsequently being added in 1913. Now a protected building, it houses thousands of paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints, including important works by Picasso and Kirchner, Buchet, Morach, Hodler and Auberjonois. Here, you'll also find Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, including those dating from the 4th/5th centuries.

Haus zum Rech

Neumarkt 4, CH-8001 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0)44 266 8686, Archives Open: Mon 1pm-5pm, Tue-Fri 8am-5pm, every first Sat in the month 8am-noon, Closed Sun. Exhibition hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Closed Sun, Tram to << >>
At No. 4 Neumarkt, just across from the classicist fountain, you'll find Zürich's architectural history and town archives. The 800 year old Haus "Zum (unteren) Rech", hosts temporary exhibitions on building related topics, as well as displaying a large model of the city as it was in 1800.

Flanked by two Medieval towers, namely the Grimmenturm (an imposing 12th-century gothic tower) and the Bilgeriturm (which has been incorporated into the "zur Schuhmacher" guild house), Haus zum Rech stands in one of Zürich's most picturesque squares. Free entrance.

Johann Jacobs Museum

Seefeldquai 17, CH-8034 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0)44 388 61 51, Website: www.johann-jacobs-museum.ch, Open: Fri 2pm-7pm, Sat 2pm 5pm and Sun 10am-5pm (Guided tours for public at 2pm on Sun)
Whether its a full-flavoured espresso or a frothy cappuccino, there's no doubt that coffee plays a regular part in the daily lives of many adults. Located in the residential Seefeld area, the Johann Jacobs museum is a converted villa housing a number of (changing) exhibitions devoted to one of Europe's most widely-consumed drinks.

Examining the cultural, social and political aspects of coffee in society, you'll find a wide-selection of prints, paintings, porcelain and silverware on each theme, while one of the world's best libraries for the cultural and economical history of coffee is also found here.

Also worth exploring is the Media Café, a "floating" island where it's possible to browse through a varied selection of coffee-related media presentations, including off-beat film gems that are projected onto a large screen.

Kulturama - Museum of Man

Englischviertelstrasse 9, CH-8032 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0) 44 260 6044, Website: www.kuturama.ch, Open: Tue-Sun 1pm-5pm (9am-12pm the museum is reserved for schools and groups with guided tours), closed on Mondays. Guided tours are also available outside of normal opening hours upon request. In addition, a public guided tour is given every first Sunday of the month (at 2.30pm)
Covering 600 million years of evolution, Kulturama offers insight into the development of animal species and, in most recent times, human beings. In addition, it looks at the reign (and eventual extinction) of the dinosaurs, through an impressive paleological collection that's shown in conjunction with replica exhibits including a tyrannosaur skull, plateosaur and pteranodon. Elsewhere, a collection of skeletons help chart the link between primeval times and the present day for various species.

On Kulturama's second floor, the development of the human being is explored with a section devoted to human biology (from conception and birth to death), as well as the form and function of the body.

A further section is devoted to the "History of Civilization" and charts the progress of mankind, making use of mummy displays, tools, shrunken heads and a wide-range of archeological objects.

Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum)

Museumstrausse 2, CH-8023 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0)44 218 6511, E-mail: kanzlei@slm.admin.ch, Website: www.musee-suisse.com, Open: Daily except Mondays from 10.30am to 5pm, Tram 3, 4, 5, 11, 13 to << Hauptbahnhof >>
The fairy-tale turrets of this castle like building, which stand behind Zürich's Hauptbahnhof, play host to an exhibition that provides an extraordinary look into the culture and history of the Swiss people.

Regarded as the "nation's attic", artifacts here date from the the 4th millennium B.C. right through to an exhibit of Swiss clock making from the 16th-18th centuries. The Landesmuseum's displays also include those on Roman clothing, medieval silverware, works of religious art (including church sculptures, panel paintings and carved altarpieces), weapons, flags, toys and 17th-century porcelain.

Twice yearly temporary exhibitions, all relevant to Swiss society, are also held here (each typically lasting between 3 and 6 months) while in mid-July, pop concerts take place in the courtyard as part of the "Live at Sunset" festival. In addition, this space is transformed in the festive season with illuminations, turning it into a Christmas fairytale world. With a skating rink and stalls offering all manner of seasonal delights, including Glühwein, it's a must visit for those visiting Zürich in December..

Museum Bellerive

Höschgasse 3, CH-8008 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0) 43 446 4469, Website: www.museum-bellerive.ch, Open: Tue and Wed 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-8pm, Fri/Sat/Sun 10am-5pm, Mon closed, Tram 2, 4 in the direction of Tiefenbrunnen, to << Höschgasse >>
As the country's largest collection of international arts and crafts, the Museum Bellerive exhibits textiles from the 3rd-15th centuries, silk materials from the baroque to Art Nouveau period, contemporary (European) ceramics, plus a display of drinking glasses dating between 1880 and post-1970. In addition, you'll find an interesting marionette exhibition - including works by Russian painter and designer Alexandra Exter (1882-1949) - along with collection of more than 200 historical instruments, with a unique alto recorder made by Thomas Coenrat Boekhout also displayed here.

Museum of Design

Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Ausstellungsstrasse 60, CH-8005 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0)43 446 67 67, Website: www.museum-gestaltung.ch, Open: Tue–Thu 10am–8pm, Fri–Sun 10am–5pm, Monday closed, Admission (main hall): CHF 9 adults, CHF 6 concessions, Tram 4, 13 to << Museum für Gestaltung >>
As a protected national monument, the functionalist Design Museum is widely regarded as one of the best examples of modern architecture in Switzerland. This wasn't always the case, however. When opened in 1933 - as an extension to the nearby Landesmuseum - the cube shaped building caused much controversy, although its versatility in serving as a school (teaching industrial design), laboratory and modern museum has never been disputed.

Today, its permanent collection explores the inter-connected themes in design, with original art and objects that illustrate 20th century production. Along with graphic design and poster collections, you'll find design-led everyday objects including textiles, ceramics and glass, along with unique objects of a more artistic and ambitious nature.

Museum Rietberg

Gablerstrasse 15, CH-8002 Zurich, Tel: + 41 (0)44 206 31 31, Website: www.rietberg.ch, Opening Hours: please refer to official website, Admission: Villa Wesendonck and Park-Villa Rieter (combined): CHF 6 adults, CHF 3 concessions. Haus zum Kiel: CHF 5 adults, CHF 3 concessions, Tram 7 to << Museum Rietberg >>
Comprising of three separate buildings, namely the Villa Wesendonck, Park-Villa Rieter and Haus zum Kiel, the Museum Rietberg houses collections of Buddhist and Hindu art from China, India, Japan and Southeast Asia, along with Tibetan bronzes, African masks and sculptures/artworks from the ancient Americas.

The core of the Rietberg's collection was bequeathed to the City of Zürich by German banker and philanthropist Baron Eduard von der Heydt, with the majority of exhibits being housed in the neo-classical Wesendonck villa.

The villa itself, which lies adjacent to Gablerstrasse in Rieterpark, is believed to be an exact copy of the Roman Villa Albani. Built in 1857 for German industrialist, Otto Wesendonck it served as a meeting place for Zürich's intellectual elite (as well as once being home to composer Richard Wagner) before it was acquired by the city in 1952.

Elsewhere, the Park-Villa Rieter displays Japanese painting and graphic art, Chinese snuff bottles and Japanese Noh-masks, while Haus zum Kiel holds temporary exhibitions all year round.

In 2007, the museum is set to expand with the opening of a new multi-million franc extension which will allow for a great number of von der Heydt's exhibits to be placed on permanent display.

Mühlerama - Mill Museum in the Mühle Tiefenbrunnen

Seefeldstrasse 231, CH 8008 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0) 422 7660, Website: www.muhlerama.ch, Open: Tue-Sat 2-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm, Mon closed, Tram 2, 4 or Bus 33 to << Wildbachstrasse >> or << Bahnhof Tiefenbrunnen >>. Train S6 or S16 to << Bahnhof Tiefenbrunnen >>
Situated along the banks of the river Limmat, the Mühlerama museum is situated in an old brewery and flour mill complex which, in recent years, has been converted into a mixed-use centre with shops, restaurants, galleries and a performing arts theatre.

Interestingly, the mill was never powered by water but instead used a system of pulleys and belts (powered by electricity) to turn the milling units. Today, the museum displays some of the grinding stones originally used, whilst also providing demonstrations on how flour and bread are made using a small "tub" mill. In addition, you'll find here a large hammer mill that once ground herbs and spices, along with a large exhibition dedicated to the history of these items, along with various seasonings and condiments.

Pewter Figure Museum Zürich

Obere Zäune 19, Zürich, CH-8001, Tel: +41 (0) 44 262 5720, Website: www.zinnfigurenmuseum.ch, Open: Sun 11am-4pm (Daily on Request), Tram 4, 15 to << Rathaus >>
Tucked away in Zürich's Niederdorf area, the Pewter Figure Museum is a treasure trove for those interested in civil and military subjects, with over 40,000 models on display. As one of the museum's included on the list of those enjoying free entry with a ZürichCARD, it's certainly worth a look if you're in this part of town.