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 – lionoche

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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 buy a shiny souvenir, there are lots of jewellers in Switzerland!

Photo: Flickr – Peter Schaer

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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 until 18:00. (17:00 Nov-Feb)

Photos: Flickr – keepps

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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 Museum
Bolligenstrasse 111, CH-3000 Bern 60
Tel. +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 Liao Dynasty, which ran from 907-1125 AD.

Unbelievably luxurious, there are the expected lions, dragons as well as a few phoenixes. And porcelain lovers are looked after too, with a selection of vases, urns etc. So, if you are in any way interested in Chines history, this place is worth a trip.

It’s only open from April to October though, and only from 2pm to 5pm, so don’t rush along just yet!

Abegg Stiftung
Werner-Abegg-Strasse 67
CH-3132 Riggisberg
+41(0)31 808 12 01

www.abegg-stiftung.ch

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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 living museum, as there is an active workshop, and watching glass being heated and shaped is always entertaining, and educational for the young and old alike.

The museum is split into two parts, stained glass and gilding; the two are linked by (what else?) a glass corridor.

And if you really feel like making a day of looking at glass, there are tours and trails linking 20 or so villages and churches, these can be followed on foot or by car.

Office du Tourisme Romont et sa région
+41 (0)26 652 31 52
www.vitromusee.ch

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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 is available in several aged varieties.

Now, given that clearly some education wouldn’t go amiss, how about a trip to a cheese dairy in the delightful after which the cheese is named?

La Maison is open from 9am to 6pm, or 7pm in summer, which indicates how popular it is. Because it’s very rare that anything stays open until 7pm!

For a measly 5 CHF, you get to understand how the cheese is made, and of course try the product (personally I’d try to get as much of the local cream as possible).

The cheese is now AOC rated ,which, if you know anything about French wine, will tell you something. If you don’t, why not visit the museum and find out?

Gruyère is about 30 mins away from Berne, allow two hours from Zurich.

La Maison du Gruyère
CH- 1663 Pringy-Gruyères
Tél. ++41 (0) 26 921 84 00

Photos scalleja

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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 there!

The Olympic Museum
1, Quai d’Ouchy
1001 Lausanne
Switzerland
Tel. (+41 21) 621 65 11

Opening hours
From 1 April to 31 October:
Every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From 1 November to 31 March:
Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Mondays

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

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, but that only lasted a few months. Now of course, Bern is the capital, but Aarau still offers plenty of opportunities for shopping, culture and relaxation.

As well as the predictable museum of local history, there is an interesting Art gallery, which also features architecture exhibitions, a nature museum (Naturama) as well as a wildlife park (Roggenhausen Wildlife Park).

From a culinary perspective, Aarau, and the surrounding canton, are best known for carrot cake. Which perhaps explains the infamous “carrot market” held every year in November.

The local area also boasts a number of castles to visit, but I’m not telling you about those yet or I’ll run out of things to post about!

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