Bern Historical Museum / Einstein Museum, Bern

Bern Historical Museum / Einstein Museum, Bern (must see)

The Bern Historical Museum (German: Bernisches Historisches Museum) is the second largest historical museum in Switzerland. It was designed by the Neuchâtel architect André Lambert and built in 1894. Since it was initially conceived as the Swiss National Museum (which the city of Zurich was later chosen to host), the architect took as his model various historic castles from the 15th and 16th centuries. An extension to the original museum building was completed in 2009.

The museum contains collections related to the history of Bern from prehistoric times to the present and other artefacts on permanent display from Asia, Oceania, America, and Egypt. One of the most remarkable items in the collection is the Muri statuette group, a group of six Gallo-Roman bronze figurines.

First conceived as a temporary exhibition in 2005, the Einstein Museum became a museum dedicated to the life and work of Albert Einstein, who developed the Relativity Theory while living in Bern. The house where he lived (Einsteinhaus) in this period is also open to the public but is located elsewhere in the city and charges separate entry fees.

Why You Should Visit:
The Einstein exhibit has a great number of Einstein artifacts and goes into a very detailed history of his life and work while also trying to explain special & general relativity in an understandable way.
The main collection, centered on local history, covers some rather universal themes, has some excellent historical room recreations and also a beautiful montage of Bern's "plague drawings".

Tip:
Entry to the Einstein Museum (located on the building's top floor) costs more than the general museum entry, but includes both.
Renting an audio guide is not absolutely necessary as most of the times there's a text with explanations next to each display.
Make sure you climb the spiral staircase to the 'turret' to enjoy excellent views across the river to Bern's lovely buildings and landmarks.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bern. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Bern Historical Museum / Einstein Museum on Map

Sight Name: Bern Historical Museum / Einstein Museum
Sight Location: Bern, Switzerland (See walking tours in Bern)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Bern, Switzerland

Create Your Own Walk in Bern

Create Your Own Walk in Bern

Creating your own self-guided walk in Bern is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Fountains and Statues Walking Tour

Fountains and Statues Walking Tour

With over 100 public fountains in the Old Town alone, Bern has a well-deserved reputation as the "City of Fountains". During medieval times, local life revolved around fountains as they provided water for residents and served as locations for news exchange and social gatherings.

Throughout history, Bernese residents have cherished their fountains and decorated them with elaborate...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Bern Introduction Walking Tour

Bern Introduction Walking Tour

The de facto capital of Switzerland, Bern is commonly referred to by the Swiss as the "federal city". Built around a crook in the Aare River, it traces its origins back to the 12th century. According to the local legend, Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, founder of Bern, vowed to name the city after the first animal he would kill on the hunt. That animal happened to be a bear, hence the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Bern's Historical Churches

Bern's Historical Churches

They say architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness. While the outside appearances of historical churches in Bern beckon seekers of beauty and tranquility, the ethereal atmosphere within embraces the visitor with a sense of timeless serenity.

Enveloped within Bern's historic old town, the Church of the Holy Ghost (Heiliggeistkirche) is one of the largest...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


Swiss Sweets and Pastries

Swiss Sweets and Pastries

Among other things that make Switzerland popular around the world, chocolate is definitely the one. Still, chocolate isn't the only Swiss-made sweet deserving attention, as there are plenty of baked products, such as Magenbrot, Vermicelles, and Biberli, to mention but a few, that are well worth...