Swiss Alpine Museum, Bern

The Swiss Alpine Museum in Bern is a specialized institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating the intricate relationship between humans and the mountains of the Swiss Alps, as well as their cultural, natural, and artistic significance. Situated on Helvetiaplatz in Bern's Kirchenfeld district, the museum occupies a historic building that epitomizes the Neues Bauen (New Building) architectural style and has been a cultural landmark since its establishment in 1933.

Founded under the auspices of the Bernese section of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) in 1905, the museum initially served both as a repository for Alpine artifacts and as a center for alpinist education and research. Its early days were spent in the Town Hall (Rathaus) before moving to its current location, which was specifically constructed for the museum in 1933–1934.

The museum holds an extensive collection, including about 20,000 objects, 220,000 photographs, and 600 prints, making it a significant repository of cultural property of national importance. Notably, it houses the world's largest collection of raised-relief maps and artworks by celebrated artists like Ferdinand Hodler. The thematic focus of the collection spans geology, meteorology, flora and fauna, cartography, agriculture, folklore, settlement history, alpinism, tourism, and winter sports, among other topics.

The museum underwent a significant renovation, which modernized its facilities and redefined its exhibition spaces. It was remodeled to support a new conceptual approach, shifting from a traditional permanent exhibition to dynamic, frequently changing special exhibitions across its two main floors. These exhibitions delve into diverse aspects of Alpine life and environment, covering natural, historical, cultural, and contemporary issues.

Additionally, the museum offers a restaurant named "Las Alps" on the ground floor, providing a taste of Alpine culinary traditions, and a well-curated museum shop. The Swiss Alpine Museum is not only a repository of Alpine heritage but also a vibrant cultural center that continuously engages with various perspectives on Alpine topics through innovative exhibitions and educational programs.

Why You Should Visit:
The displays really provide a very good survey of paintings of the Swiss Alps in a wide range of styles and there is an interactive feature that allows you to study the collection by time period, location, subject, and even gender of the artist.