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Switzerland
Switzerland travel tips
From north to south
Basel:
- The Kornfeldkirche in Riehen, Basel. Ev-Reformierte church, 1964.
- Museum Kleines Klingental is housed in the historical rooms of the former Klingental Dominican convent and features original medieval sculptures from Basel Cathedral, a 17th-century model of the city and the history of the convent itself. www.mkk.ch (D)
- The Im Obersteg Collection in the Kunstmuseum Basel is one of Switzerland's major private collections of Classical Modernism. Top works by world-renowned artists make up the high points of the collection: Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, as well as important work groups by Alexej von Jawlensky, Paul Klee, Chaïm Soutine und Bernard Buffet.
Pratteln-Augst:
- Ev-Reformierte Kirche Leodegar has windows from 2009 by Claudia and Julia Müller.
Sankt Gallen:
- Library museum of the monastery of Sankt Gallen with a world famous collection of medieval manuscripts.
- The Bruder-Klaus-Kirche Winkeln in St. Gallen-Winkeln, modern Catholic church of 1959 by architects Ernst Brantschen and Alfons Weisser. Windows by Ferdinand Gehr.
Moutier:
- l'Église Notre-Dame de la Prévôté, Moutier, Canton de Berne, Switzerland (1965-1969): windows by Alfred Manessier and tapestry and sculptures by Henri-Georges Adam.
Courfaivre (Jura):
- Windows (1953-54) by Fernand Léger in the Saint-Germaine d’Auxerre. Two long friezes of windows at both sides of the nave based on the Creed and two big windows in the choir of the miracle of Cana and the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. On the wall behind the altar is a tapestry depicting the Lamb of God by Jean Lurçat.
Volketswil:
- Eleven windows by Max Hunziker on the theme of the Lord’s Prayer in the Reformed Church.
- Eleven windows by Max Hunziker on the theme of the Lord’s Prayer in the Reformed Church.
Zürich:
- Fraumünster – windows by Chagall; also windows by the Swiss painter Augusto Giacometti.
- In the Evang. Reform. Grossmünster 12 beautiful windows by the German artist Sigmar Polke were installed in 2009.
- In 2018 the University Children’s Hospital has installed a permanent installation by James Turrell for patients , parents, hospital staff and visitors. Opening hours: on Sundays, 1 – 5 pm | March 25 – September 30. http://haeusler-contemporary.com/en/james-turrell-neue-installation-im-kinderspital-zuerich-ch/
Wollishofen:
- Series of windowns by Max Hunziker in the Alte Kirche Wollishofen.
Uetikon am See:
- Franziskus Church, Tramstrasse 32, built in 2008, architect Daniele Markus.
Rapperswil:
- Reformierte Kirche Rapperswil: recent works by Kurt Sigrist and Godi Hirschi.
- Reformierte Kirche Rapperswil: recent works by Kurt Sigrist and Godi Hirschi.
Beromünster:
- Church treasure of the monastery of Beromünster in the church of the monastery.
Solothurn:
- Dom treasure in the St. Ursen Cathedral. A Reichenauer manuscript from 983, golden objects and liturgical robes from the Middle Ages till the Baroque, sculptures.
Einsiedeln:
- Collection of the monastery in Einsiedeln. Paintings, sculptures, religious folk art.
Bern:
- Zentrum Paul Klee, Monument im Fruchtland 3. In 2005 the Zentrum Paul Klee opened its doors. Of the 10,000 or so works that make up Paul Klee’s oeuvre a good 40 per cent, that is to say around 4,000 paintings, watercolours and drawings as well as archives and biographical material, has been brought together at the Zentrum Paul Klee. The museum building was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. http://www.zpk.org/
- In the St. Peter and Paul Church the permanent installation "5 Sinne plus 1" by Franticek Klossner. Open: daily. www.stpeterundpaul.ch
- In the Dreifaltigkeitskirche murals by Jorg Niederberger.
- Three windows by Max Hunziker combining Old and New Testament themes for the choir of the Johanneskirche. www.johannes.gkgbe.ch/1281.html
Sachseln:
- Museum Bruder Klaus Sachseln, Dorfstrasse 4, Sachseln. With works about the medieval hermit Bruder Klaus and religious works. Also changing exhibitions. www.kulturfenster.ch/dynamic/page.asp?seiid=337
Sumvitg:
- Chapel Sogn Benedetg (1985/8) by Peter Zumthor and Annalisa Zumthor-Cuorad. www.galinsky.com/buildings/sbenedetg/index.htm
Chur:
- Dom with Romanesque capitals and four apostle columns.
Zillis (Graubünden):
- In the St. Martin church is a Romanesque roof with 153 painted biblical scenes dating from around 1120. Very unique! www.zillis-st-martin.ch
- Visitors center with small exposition about the old murals in the church.
Clugin:
- Well-preserved medieval decoration in the Reformed Romanesque church in Clugin.
- Well-preserved medieval decoration in the Reformed Romanesque church in Clugin.
Lavin:
Zuoz:
- Skyspace Piz Uter by James Turrell in Hotel Castell. The opening of the cupola of the rotunda offers the view of the changing play of colors in the sky. Turrell’s walk-in room installation is the highlight of the considerable collection of modern art in posession of Hotel Castell. http://haeusler-contemporary.com/en/james-turrell-skyspace-piz-uter-zuoz-2005/
- Skyspace Piz Uter by James Turrell in Hotel Castell. The opening of the cupola of the rotunda offers the view of the changing play of colors in the sky. Turrell’s walk-in room installation is the highlight of the considerable collection of modern art in posession of Hotel Castell. http://haeusler-contemporary.com/en/james-turrell-skyspace-piz-uter-zuoz-2005/
Pontresina:
- Beautiful old church with frescoes of ca. 1500 on all walls. Open: 9 – 27 June: Mo, Wed and Fri 15.30 – 17.30; 30 June – 17 October: Mo – Fr 15.30 – 17.30. See Pontresina Tourist Information www.pontresina.ch.
In the Engadin (Graubünden) many small churches with medieval frescoes: in Zernez, Bever, Poschiave, Celerina, Fex, Cosoccia, Mesocco and Soarza.
Disentis:
- Collection of the Benedictine abbey of Disentis in the abbey. Open: June - October: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2.00 - 5.00 p.m. From January - April (Easter) every Wednesday from 2.00 - 5.00 p.m.
- Collection of the Benedictine abbey of Disentis in the abbey. Open: June - October: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2.00 - 5.00 p.m. From January - April (Easter) every Wednesday from 2.00 - 5.00 p.m.
In Ticino various churches and chapels by Mario Botta:
- Monte Tamaro, Santa Maria degli Angeli, a mountain chapel from 1996 on the top of the Monte Tamaro in the canton of Ticino, by architect Mario Botta with paintings by the Italian artist Enzo Cucchi.
- Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, Mogno
- San Carlino, Laco di Lugano
- Capella San Fermo, Genestrerio.Then there is the work Botta has carried out on the parish church of his Swiss home town, Genestrerio. Here, he has merely added an imposing, rather cinematic red stone facade to the barn-like front of the old building. The new facade fans out on either side of the church's west door, climbing above the old pediment. It gives the little church great presence and demonstrates how a modest architectural project can have great power.
- Chapel for the monastery of Bigorio with Tota Cartoni.
- San Carlino, Laco di Lugano
- Capella San Fermo, Genestrerio.Then there is the work Botta has carried out on the parish church of his Swiss home town, Genestrerio. Here, he has merely added an imposing, rather cinematic red stone facade to the barn-like front of the old building. The new facade fans out on either side of the church's west door, climbing above the old pediment. It gives the little church great presence and demonstrates how a modest architectural project can have great power.
- Chapel for the monastery of Bigorio with Tota Cartoni.
Val Mustair:
- Benedictine convent St. Johann with museum, on the World Heritage list.
- The Sancta Maria church from the time of Charles the Great. http://www.muestair.ch/
Le Locle:
- The Musée des Beaux-Arts, Marie-Anne-Calame 6, has in its collection church windows, paintings and graphic work by Lermite (†1977), and also work by Paul-Théophile Robert (1879-1954).
Neuchâtel:
- In the art museum three murals about Jesus by Paul Théophile Robert (1879-1954).
Fribourg/Freiburg:
- Cathedral Saint Nicolas has a window by Manessier from 1976. Gothic cathedral, with treasury.
- Bibel und Orient Museum, Universität Freiburg, Miséricorde, Avenue de l‘Europe 20. www.bible-orient-museum.ch
Romont:
- Vitromusée, Au Château, Case postale 150. Musée Suisse du Vitrail et des Arts du Verre. Museum of Windows and Glass arts with old, modern and contemporary windows. Also expositions. www.vitromusee.ch
- In the area around Romont there are many churches with interesting recent windows. There is a trail along these churches that can be followed by foot, bus or car. With windows by Alexandre Cingria, Samuel Buri, Yoki, Theodore Strawinsky, Jean Bazaine and many others. A folder and elaborate guide can be obtained at the museum.
Ringgenberg (near Interlaken):
- Castle church, beautifully located, inside surprising ceramic sculptures of faces.
Moudon:
- Eugène Burnand Museum, Rue du Chateau 48, Moudon. Museum about the reformed Swiss naturalistic painter and graphic artist Eugène Burnand (1850-1921) with among others works about biblical subjects. Open: March - November on Wed, Sa and So 14.00 – 18.00.
Gstaad:
- Kirche St. Josef: an altar piece from 2009 by Kurt Sigrist.
- Kirche St. Josef: an altar piece from 2009 by Kurt Sigrist.
Geneva:
- Reformation monument – 100 meter long Wall of the Reformers in the Parc des Bastions.
- Musée International de la Réforme. Paintings and documents make visible the ideas of the Reformation. www.musee-reforme.ch
- Cathédrale St. Pierre, the church where Calvin preached. A beautiful church! Note especially the 19th-century windows with biblical subjects in the Chapel of the Maccabees. The church has an archeological site with a series of remnants of a major centre of Christian worship that goes back as far as 350 AD.
- La Pomme d’Or, Bourg-de-Four 22. Byzantine and Post-Byzantine art, icons of the 14th-19th century, Byzantine jewellery of the 6th-14th century.
- Espace Fusterie, Place de la Fusterie 18. Expositions organized by the Eglise protestante de Genève.
Coligny:
- In the church Saint-Paul windows and murals by Maurice Denis.
Saint-Maurice:
- Treasury of the monastery of Saint-Maurice in the monastery. www.abbaye-stmaurice.ch/home-home-english.html
- In the monastery church is a mosaic by Maurice Denis.
Martigny:
- Protestant chapel with seven windows from 2012 by Hans Erni.
- The Pierre Gianadda Foundation stages three major art exhibitions a year. www.gianadda.ch
- The restored Chapelle de la Batiaz has windows by Kim en Joong.
Sion:
- Diocesan Museum (Musée de l’Evêché), cathedral treasury, Place de la Planta, Sion. Open May – September, all days 13.30 - 19 hr.
- Art Museum Sion, Place de la Majorie, Sion. Art of the 18th century till now. Art from Wallis and international contemporary art.
Hérémence:
- St. Nicholas Church (1971): unique, unusual and impressive. The church was built by the Basel architect Walter Förderer. The old church, damaged by the 1946 earthquake, needed to be replaced. The church was built just after the nearby Grande Dixence dam was completed, both constructed entirely of concrete. A ‘Sound and Light’ presentation illustrates the peculiarities of this building.
- St. Nicholas Church (1971): unique, unusual and impressive. The church was built by the Basel architect Walter Förderer. The old church, damaged by the 1946 earthquake, needed to be replaced. The church was built just after the nearby Grande Dixence dam was completed, both constructed entirely of concrete. A ‘Sound and Light’ presentation illustrates the peculiarities of this building.
Brig:
- Herz Jesu Kirche, 1968, designed by architects Jean and Nadine Iten from Geneva. Beautiful interior.
- Herz Jesu Kirche, 1968, designed by architects Jean and Nadine Iten from Geneva. Beautiful interior.
Vercorin:
- Windows with the Stations of the Cross from 1965 by Albert Chavaz in the Catholic church of Vercorin.
- Windows with the Stations of the Cross from 1965 by Albert Chavaz in the Catholic church of Vercorin.