Bernisches Historisches Museum

Overview

The Bernisches Historisches Museum is the second-largest historical museum in Switzerland, housed in a castle-like building designed by André Lambert in 1894. It combines regional history, ethnography, and archaeology, and includes the integrated Einstein Museum on the upper floor.

Highlights

• Einstein Museum: A dedicated 1,200-square-metre permanent exhibition on Albert Einstein's life, work, and legacy.
• Burgundy Tapestries: A set of 15th-century tapestries captured at the Battle of Grandson (1476), among the museum's most prized objects.
• Ethnographic Galleries: Extensive collections from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas collected during Swiss expeditions.

History

Founded in 1882, the museum moved to its current purpose-built Neo-Gothic building in 1894. The Einstein Museum wing was added in 2005 to mark the centenary of Einstein's Annus Mirabilis. The museum's collections encompass over 500,000 objects spanning from prehistoric times to the present.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: A combined ticket covers both the historical museum and the Einstein Museum at a discounted rate.
• Tip 2: The Burgundy tapestries gallery alone is worth 30 minutes.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.