Landesmuseum Zurich

Directly opposite the main train station, on the way to Platzsspitz Park, a huge historical building catches the eye, almost looking like a fairytale castle. However, no king or nobleman lived here, but rather it is the Swiss National Museum. Landesmuseum Zürich - Kultur und Geschichte erleben - Landesmuseum Zürich The building encloses a courtyard that is entered through a portal.

Switzerland took its time with a national museum, especially since many cantons had their own historical collections. However, after the success of the Swiss National Exhibition in 1883, a competition commenced between Basel, Bern, Zurich and Lucerne, all of which applied for the national museum.

In 1891, Zurich prevailed. Architect Gustav Gull used elements from the late Middle Ages and modern times. The building was intended to reflect history and be easily recognizable as a museum.  The museum was opened with great festivities in 1989. Due to increasing space constraints it had to be expanded at the beginning of this century. The new building by Swiss architects Christ & Gantenbein, which opened in 2016, perfectly complements Gull's building wing.

The permanent exhibition shows the history of Switzerland from the Middle Ages onwards, as well as over 7,000 exhibits of craftsmanship. There is a special exhibition for children with a flying carpet. My favorite is the exhibition “Simply Zurich”, which uses historical objects to convey interesting facts about the city's extensive history. It is multimedia-based and also has a tongue-in-cheek side.

In November and December, the museum's courtyard is beautifully illuminated. Illuminarium - illuminarium.