Musée D'art Et D'histoire (Art And History Museum), Geneva: How To Reach, Best Time & Tips

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Musée D'art Et D'histoire (Art And History Museum) Overview

The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire was built between 1903 and 1910 which resides fine art collection from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Over 1 million acquisition pieces of western civilization and culture from ancient times to the present era are preserved here. The masterpieces showcased here are the works created by the Italian, Dutch, Genevan, French, English and Swiss Schools.

The museum, located in the heart of the old town and designed by architect Marc Camoletti, is an abode with five floors presenting an array of applied arts, fine arts, and archaeology. Covering an expansive 700 square meters, this cultural gem takes visitors on a captivating journey through time. Historical objects, paintings, sculptures, musical instruments, and more vividly describe the evolution of art over the decades. Include a visit to this museum in your Switzerland tour package and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of artistic and historical wonders.

Every year many temporary exhibitions are also held on the premises of the museum. For the sake of visitors from the distinct parts of the world, distinct audio guides of French, German or English language are also available at the reception. The people who don’t want to opt for a guide can avail of the free fliers available in several languages at the museum.

One can visit the museum from 11 AM to 6 PM except on Mondays when the museum is closed. This place is designed quite spacious and modern. It can consume up to two to three hours for its exploration. Facilities such as lockers, free toilets, restaurants, Kid's playground, and others are also available in the premises of the museum. The entry is free for everyone at the museum.

How To Reach

The distance between the Geneva airport to the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire is 7 to 11 kilometers depending on its distinct routes. There are three routes to reach the museum from the airport.

1. The first route follows A1 and Route 1 and is 10.8 kilometers away. This route takes up to 23 minutes to reach the destination.

2. The second route is via Rue de Lyon and the distance between the two locations is 7.1 kilometers. This route can consume up to 20 minutes depending on the traffic conditions.

3. The third route is via Route de Ferney and one had to cover a distance of 7.7 kilometers through this route. It would take one 22 minutes to reach the museum via this route.

There are three modes of transportation one can opt for to reach the museum.

- By Bus: Get on line 5 bus, which is the cheapest mode of transportation available to reach the museum.

- By Taxi: This is the fastest mode you can opt for if you are short on time but it’s a bit pricey.

- By Train: Line 15 train is the one to grab if one wants to reach the museum through a train.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Musée d'Art et d'Histoire located in Geneva is from June to August. These summer months here are quite breezy and mild. Rain is common in these months and brags sun all through the day.

One can find a lot of tourists in this season due to the soothing weather of this location. The moderate temperatures make it easy for the tourists to explore all the locations along with the museum.

Other Essential Information

1. Location: The address of the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire is Rue Charles-Galland 2, 1206 Genève, Switzerland. Input it into your navigation system or opt for a mode of public transport to reach the location.

2. Entry fee: The entry is free into the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire. Explore the remains of history as you glance at each exquisite artifact present in the museum.

3. Distance from Geneva Airport: The distance from Geneva airport to the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire varies from 7 to 10 kilometers depending upon the route you opt for. Check out all the three routes and go through the most preferred one as per your budget and time.

Exhibitions at Musée d'Art et d'Histoire:

Temporary exhibitions are organized frequently about which all the information is mentioned on the official website of this museum. Some of them are listed below:

1. Metamorphoses: Related to antiquity, Ovide's Les Métamorphoses paragon is a perfect subject for the thematic representation of the fine arts collection presented here. It not only invites one to question the creative process of the masterpieces and also discusses the themes of the work in the collection.

2. Pioneers of Photography: With the arrival of photography in 1839, this exhibition offers an insight into the controversies linked to this invention at that time. Due to the outstanding works by the Auer Ory Foundation, one can glance into the years from 1840 to 1860. The studies of the past and archaeological discoveries are fuelled in today’s world with the pictures presented here due to this invention.

3. Paul Eliasberg: Based on the generous donations by one of the daughters of a famous artist, this exhibition shows the art pieces of the German emigrants in France after the Second World War. Pictures of cathedrals, gothic sites, and landscapes help one develop a personal form of figuration of the past era.

Collections at Musée d'Art et d'Histoire:

Below-mentioned are some of the collections one can sight at this museum.

1. The museum is abode to the best-known painting, the miraculous draught of fishes created by Konrad Witz in 1444. The fine art collection also includes masterpieces created by the artists Rodin, Cézanne, Modigliani, and Rembrandt. It also houses numerous works of Felix Vallotton, Étienne Liotard, Ferdinand Hodler, and Jean Baptiste Camille Corot.

2. The classic works of the Genevan Neoclassical painter Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours are one of the best to lay one’s eyes on.

3. The collection in the applied arts section has weapons, icons and Byzantine art that date back to the middle ages. Many pieces of the same era like musical instruments, silverware, tinware, and textiles are also great to know about. The wood paneling and completely furnished interiors of the castle Zizers are also recreated in the museum.

4. The archaeology collection of the museum houses objects and artifacts from ancient Egypt, pore roman Italy, ancient Greece, and European prehistory.

Tips for visiting Musée d'Art et d'Histoire:

Before you plan your visit to the grand Musée d'Art et d'Histoire museum, keep in mind the following points for an easy and hassle free exploration

1. One can store their valuables in the locker facility available at the museum.

2. For history enthusiasts, there are free flyers available at the museum in several languages. If one wants a brief exploration, audio guides are the best way to know more about everything at the museum.

3. Check out the nearby attractions and spend appropriate time at each so that you can visit more places on your vacation.

4. Do not touch anything as all those are historic artefacts and objects. It is against the rules.

5. Go on with the decorum maintained at the museum like maintaining the noise levels.

Musée D'art Et D'histoire (Art And History Museum) FAQs

Is the museum stroller accessible?

Yes, the museum is stroller accessible. The hallways are included with ramps while the elevators are also an amenity offered at the museum.

Is camera allowed in the museum?

Yes, the camera is allowed inside the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire. Capture the exquisite paintings and exhibitions of the ancient Roman and other periods as a memory of your visit to the museum.

Is there a locker to keep my belongings?

Yes a locker facility is available in the museum where the tourists can keep their valuables for safety purposes.

Is photography or videography permitted at the museum?

Yes, one can create videos and capture photos of the distinct collections at the museum. Do make videos to keep your visit to the museum a reminiscent one.

Are there food and drinks provided in the museum?

The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire resides a restaurant in its premises on the ground floor. It offers visitors simple meals, tea, dessert, fresh juices, and many other things. Soak the fresh air in with your food at a small park at the museum.