The Switzerland Traveler

I discovered at the weekend that there is a camera museum at Vevey.
It contains exhibits like the first ever production Leica, see above.
The museum is set on Lake Geneva, not far from Chateau Chillon and covers photography from it’s beginnings just over a century ago, right up to today. It covers techniques as well as equipment, with features on the inventors of milestone equipment.
The permanent exhibition features magic lanterns, camera obscura etc,  in a 500 square metre setting.  And photographers past and present are featured in regularly changing special exhibitions.
For youngsters, there are many games and hands-on installations.
www.cameramuseum.ch
Closed Mondays
Photo: Flickr – …read more

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The exhibition of mountain crystals in the old church at Flüelen has been extended for two years.
It’s open from March until October, for both 2008 and 2009. 10 am to 6 pm. The church is opposite the railway station, although you might want to consider arriving by boat – the Wilhelm Tell express from Luzern is a fabulous trip.
The crystals are said to be a sensation, because of their size, colour and clarity.
And of course, crystals are always associated with special powers. Why not toddle along and find out if you’re hypnotized.
And of course, if you have the urge to …read more

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This Sunday, 18th, 130 Swiss museums are opening their doors to encourage children and adults alike to extend their knowledge.
Each museum has its own programme, so it’s probably best to check the kanton you are interested in here: http://www.museums.ch/index.php?id=48
I’d probably opt for the transport museum in Lucerne, planesd trains, even racing cars. What more could you want?
It’s supposed to rain over the weekend, so perhaps a bit of knowledge hunting might not go amiss?
Photo: Flickr Lazytom

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Yes, it’s true. Any time of the year you can experience tropical temperatures at the end of the number 6 tram line.
Zurich Zoo prides itself on being one of the most modern in the world, seeking to reproduce natural habitats for it’s animals.
The Masaola rainforest is typical of their dedication, featuring many types of flora and fauna.

As with most zoos, the purpose is educational, and the Masaola forest is there to inform about the causes of the disappearance of forests, but also projects that help conserve forests in the real world.
The forest opens at 10:00 and is open …read more

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We all know that Freud, Jung and Adler are the founders of modern psychiatry.
But if you want to find out more about treatment of mental illness over the years, how about a trip to the museum of psychiatry in Bern?
Learn how patients were put in straightjackets, and spun round in contraptions like this…
OK, maybe it is a bit of a specialist theme, but if you are interested it’s there.
Psychatrie MuseumBolligenstrasse 111, CH-3000 Bern 60Tel. +41 (0)31 930 97 56
http://www.puk.unibe.ch/cu/museum/museumra.html
Photo: Curious Expeditions

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Culture time again.
The Abegg foundation in Riggisberg, not far from Bern, is home to one of the most impressive collections of textiles in Europe.
Probably the most impressive exhibit is the 7 metre long (22 feet) Dionysius wall hanging, which was made in the 4th century. Considering it’s 1700 years old, it is amazingly well preserved, and shows just how ambitious our ancestors were.
The museum covers the textiles of the European Middle Ages, with a focus on the region of the ancient Silk Route.
There’s also an exhibition of medieval Chinese dress: Dragons of Silk, Flowers of Gold. This covers the …read more

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If you’re looking for some culture a little out of the ordinary, how about the Swiss Museum of Stained Glass and Glass Art?
It’s down near Fribourg, about 45 minutes from Bern(e). Note to self: I really should settle on either German, French or English spellings.
The castle of Romont houses the museum; inside you’ll find an amazing collection of stained glass stretching back to the Middle Ages.
I’m happy to admit that I’d never heard of the “verre eglomisé” technique of glass gilding, but apparently this is where the only public collection of that particular art form is located.
It’s also a …read more

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I don’t know why, but I was surprised to find out that many Americans in Switzerland struggle to find Swiss cheese in the shops here.
Apparently it’s because Swiss cheeses sold in the states are less likely to be known as Gruyère or Emmental, or any one of hundreds of other types of cheese that we are used to. And you will not see any cheese labelled simply “Swiss Cheese”.
Of the two main exports, Gruyère is the one without holes (Emmental being closer to the “Swiss cheese” generic variety you may be used to) and has a slightly salty taste, and …read more

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The Olympic flame burns bright in Switzerland, in fact all of the torches used for the modern Olympic Games are on display there.
The museum features a permanent display, and regularly adds temporary features.
The current subject is sailing, and apparently there was an exhibition on Santiago Calatrava, who you may have read about in the St Gallen post, but that ended today. Doh!
I haven’t been to the museum yet, so if you have, please let me know what you thought.
I hope to visit soon, though, and will provide more details then.  I just thought you ought to know it was …read more

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 Just in case you are round and about in Switzerland and want to go somewhere off the beaten track, why not try Aarau. Not too far from Zürich, about 30 minutes on the train, it is renowned for, and you are going to like this, its roofs (rooves?).
To be precise, it’s the painted eaves and gables of the old town that give the town its nickname of Dachhimmel – literally; Roof Heaven. This results
from a period of expansion in the 16th Century.
Not many people know that in 1798 Aarau became the first capital of Switzerland, complete with Houses of Parliament, …read more

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