Musée Patek Philippe (Patek Philippe Museum), Geneva

Musée Patek Philippe (Patek Philippe Museum), Geneva (must see)

Anthony Patek served in the Polish military until 1834. At that time he was fleeing from Russian occupation and oppression in Poland. A decorated military veteran, he was also dedicated to art and business. In 1839 he partnered with fellow immigrant refugee Franciszek Czapek to create their high-end watch making company, Patek, Czapek & Company.

In 1844, Anthony Patek met prize-winning watchmaker Adrien Philippe at the French Industrial Exposition and invited him to Geneva. Adrien became the head watchmaker of the new firm, Patek, Philippe & Company. The firm has been run by the Stern family of Geneva since 1932.

Philippe Stern, named after the famous watch, opened the Patek Philippe Museum in 2001 as a "temple to watchmaking." The museum is in a four-story restored Art Deco building located on Old-Grenadiers Street (Rue Des Vieux-Grenadiers). It is open Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

At least 2,500 watches, automata, precious objects and enamled miniatures take the museum-goer on a journey through five centuries of European watchmaking art. The exhibits are in two sections. Antiques section presents watches and enamels from the 16th to the 19 century. The Patek Philippe section showcases firm items from 1839.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Geneva. 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.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Musée Patek Philippe (Patek Philippe Museum) on Map

Sight Name: Musée Patek Philippe (Patek Philippe Museum)
Sight Location: Geneva, Switzerland (See walking tours in Geneva)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Geneva, Switzerland

Create Your Own Walk in Geneva

Create Your Own Walk in Geneva

Creating your own self-guided walk in Geneva 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.
Architectural Jewels

Architectural Jewels

Geneva, a city renowned for its diplomatic prowess and picturesque landscapes, boasts an array of architectural jewels. The remarkable medieval and more contemporary structures such as Geneva Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville), Saint Peter Cathedral (Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre), and Schtroumph Buildings, showing a mix of French and German influences, have captivated both locals and tourists for decades.
...  view more

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

Historical Churches

As the cradle of the Reformist movement in Europe led by theologian Jean Calvin, the city of Geneva has no shortage of religious sites representing a great deal of historical and cultural value. A dedicated Christian, a keen churchgoer, or simply one who is interested in objects of spirituality will find here quite a few temples worthy of attention.

Whether you're drawn to the austere...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Chocolate Tour

Chocolate Tour

Chocolate started to gain popularity in Switzerland in the early 16th century and has since evolved to become a highly appreciated Swiss commodity throughout the world. Almost every city or town in the country has at least one chocolate shop, and Geneva is by far no exception.

The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Geneva Introduction Walking Tour

Geneva Introduction Walking Tour

The city of Geneva enjoys picturesque location at the southern tip of the expansive Lac Léman (aka Lake Geneva), surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, including the dramatic Mont Blanc peak.

The city was mentioned for the first time in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava, derived probably from the Celtic genawa- or genu- ("bend, knee"), in the sense of a bending...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Best Swiss Watch Shops Tour

Best Swiss Watch Shops Tour

When it comes to quality and precision, Swiss-made watches are known to be the best. Some of the world-renowned watch brands have been designed and masterminded in Geneva. The city's watch industry dates back to the 16th century, and since then has constantly developed to produce the most desired timepieces.

Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles