Kunstmuseum (Museum of Fine Arts), Bern

The Museum of Fine Arts (Kunstmuseum), established in 1879, holds the prestigious position as Switzerland's oldest art museum with a permanent collection. Located in Bern, the museum boasts an expansive and varied collection that spans from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period. It houses over 3,000 paintings and sculptures, and an impressive 48,000 drawings, prints, photographs, videos, and films. Among its notable holdings are works by acclaimed artists such as Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Edmond Jean de Pury, Ferdinand Hodler, Méret Oppenheim, Ricco Wassmer, and Adolf Wölfli.

The museum's foundation can be traced back to revolutionary ideas at the turn of the 18th century, which led to the creation of the State Art Collection in Bern in 1809, and eventually, the inauguration of the museum's first building in 1879. This long history underscores its role in preserving artistic heritage over eight centuries.

In 2014, the museum faced a significant moment when it inherited artworks from Cornelius Gurlitt, a German collector linked to pieces suspected of being Nazi loot. The museum, appointed as sole heir, took on the responsibility of researching the art's origins and returning any looted pieces to their rightful owners. After careful consideration and securing independent funding to ensure impartiality, the museum accepted the bequest in November 2014, emphasizing its dedication to ethical collection management.

Today, the Museum of Fine Arts remains a beacon of art preservation and ethical museum practices, committed to advancing the understanding and appreciation of art while addressing historical injustices associated with its collections.

Why You Should Visit:
The permanent collection is rather limited but of high quality – you can always check out the special exhibitions online and see the whole museum, however.
Labels are sparse but the staff has put books in English/German on the couches in many of the rooms that describe each painting very clearly and authoritatively.