Bourbaki Panorama

Overview

One of the world's few surviving 360-degree panoramic paintings (112 m × 10 m), depicting the 1871 internment of 87,000 French Bourbaki soldiers by the Swiss.

Highlights

• Immersive Experience: 19th-century virtual reality — standing in the center is striking.
• Humanitarian Document: Shows Swiss Red Cross caring for exhausted soldiers.
• Rare Art Form: Fewer than 30 circular panoramas survive worldwide.

History

Painted by Edouard Castres (1881), a Red Cross volunteer during the Franco-Prussian War. Moved to Lucerne 1889. Restored 2000–2003.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Use the audio guide for historical context.
• Tip 2: Let your eyes adjust to the lighting.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.