ARIANA MUSEUM
The huge European artwork museums will be overwhelming in dimension and crowds. The most pleasant museums are absolutely small and targeted, so you permit with out exhaustion. Musee Ariana, housed in a stunning Italianate villa close to the United Nations, shows solely ceramics and glass, however by no means has crockery appeared so good. Inspect a thousand years of objects from Europe, the Middle East and Far East and their mutual design influences. The solely draw back is French-only signage however, with objects and glowing stained glass this excellent, it hardly issues. Even higher, entry to the everlasting reveals is free. See musee-ariana.ch
BAUR FOUNDATION
Another case for small museums is that this non-public assortment of Chinese and Japanese artwork, which you’ll admire for an hour or two with appreciable enjoyment. You will not discover a second-rate piece, and each porcelain object particularly is luminous. Imperial Chinese ceramics, snuff containers, incense burners and jade compete for consideration with Japanese netsukes, lacquered containers, prints and bowls blooming with chrysanthemum motifs. You’ll be tempted to make off with a Ming vase, as burglars did in 2019. A compact, austere Japanese dry backyard outdoors makes a hanging distinction to the ornate facade of the villa. See fondation-baur.ch
INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS MUSEUM
The Red Cross was based in Geneva by nineteenth century businessman Henri Dunant, and this smallish however absorbing museum traces its story and present humanitarian work. It’s a horrible historical past, however the wander by way of conflict, atrocity and pure catastrophe makes a change – even when confronting – from the standard artwork museums. The multimedia reveals are excellently introduced, although signage is not the most effective, so get your self an audio information. Video interviews with witnesses to Red Cross work are very shifting. You’ll must clear your head afterwards: Geneva’s pretty Botanical Gardens are simply down the highway. See redcrossmuseum.ch
MARTIN BODMER FOUNDATION
A museum of literary texts sounds boring, however this is likely one of the world’s most very good non-public collections of writing, the place you may peer at such wonders as Egyptian papyrus scrolls, the oldest copy of the Gospel of St John, a Gutenberg Bible and first editions by luminaries similar to Shakespeare and Moliere. Impeccable connections to nationwide libraries world wide assure spectacular short-term reveals too. The assortment is housed in a beautiful villa with views over Lake Geneva, and in a Mario Botta-designed underground extension. You’ll discover the Bodmer in Cologny, town’s poshest suburb. See fondationbodmer.ch
MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY
If you are extra of a generalist, then you definately’re certain to search out one thing among the many 1000’s of objects exhibited right here to curiosity you. Geneva’s largest museum traces the entire of western tradition by way of Greek and Roman knicknackery, medieval spiritual objects, armour and weapons, Renaissance silverware and musical devices, and an assortment of work that embrace some notable Impressionist works. Some random, brooding Egyptian artefacts are thrown in for good measure, together with a mummy. Entry is free, making this a very good retreat if the rain comes on whereas wandering across the adjoining outdated city. See establishments.ville-geneve.ch
PATEK PHILIPPE MUSEUM
Photo: Patek Phillipe
The marriage of precision instrumentation and jewelled magnificence within the cupboards at this watch museum is entrancing. Wander by way of 500 years of the hunt to measure time and current its remorseless tick-tock in interesting methods. Enamelled pocket watches depict flirtatious shepherds, pastel Lake Geneva scenes or Chinese pagodas, whereas advanced trendy watches present dates, occasions, dawn and sundown, and indicators of the Zodiac. The part dedicated to Patek Philippe is fascinating: the corporate invented the crown-wound watch and first true wristwatches, and you’ll seek the advice of ledgers recording the orders of nineteenth century queens and prime ministers. See patekmuseum.com
Source: traveller.com.au”
