The best museums Romandy

Housed in a building dating from 1618 with facades painted in Mannerist style, the museum allows visitors to grasp the full extent of these constructions that have shaped the mountain landscape. The bisses are small irrigation canals on gentle slopes (0.5 to 1%). They are the legacy of Roman ingenuity, but it was not until the Middle Ages that farmers began to tame the run-off water. The effigy of the CHF 100 banknote since 2019 is the great bisse of Ayent.

How did people live in Colonia Lulia Equestris? Housed in the foundations of the basilica dating from the 1st century AD, this museum reminds us that Nyon was the capital of an imperial territory. It presents evidence of life in the ancient city: archaeological objects from the Roman period unearthed on the territory of the colony of Nyon (amphorae, jewellery, coins, cult objects), a model of the centre of the ancient city and an exhibition of the results of the latest excavations. An interesting visit for history buffs and neophytes alike.

The Lake Geneva Museum presents the culture and nature of the lake in a fun and interactive way. Take a trip to an authentic fishing hut, aboard a lifeboat or on a steamboat. Relive the adventures of the Piccard family with the submarines and balloons that made them famous. Meet the people of the lake through a collection of model boats. Follow the adventures of a drop of water to discover the flora and fauna of the lake. Dream in front of the giant aquariums and the ballet of the fish of this region.

In the heart of a building with an innovative past (the former SIP industrial building), the contemporary art center showcases the full range of contemporary artistic culture (video, painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, music, architecture, design...). Its aim is to organize original exhibitions that anticipate current art trends, and to enable young artists in residence to develop their art. Through exhibitions and the Dynamo cinema, local and international artists invite the public to discover their unique and sometimes ephemeral work. The library, with its 3,000 books on contemporary art, is open to the public.

Originally, three brothers joined forces to preserve musical instruments in the 1920s. Visiting this museum is a bit like opening a jewellery box... This enchanting museum houses some sixty exceptional pieces manufactured between 1750 and 1940. Your eyes will sparkle as you discover clocks, snuffboxes, dolls, mechanical musical instruments and old everyday crafts. The most emblematic element is the fairground organ from 1900 and an orchestra composed of ten different instruments.

Located on the listed site of the Grandes-Forges, in the heart of Vallorbe, this museum traces the history of the ore that brought prosperity to the town, but also of the railway, which also played an important role in the development of the region. You should not only see the forge in operation, with the panting of the paddle wheels, the rustling of the belts and the noise of the anvils, but also discover the epic of the railways in the Vaudois region presented on the upper floors.

The online travel guide presents the Valais Cantonal Museums in Sion. These museums include the Musée d'art du Valais, the Musée d'histoire du Valais and the Musée de la nature du Valais. Located in the upper old town of Sion, they offer visitors opportunities for discovery and enjoyment. The collections of these museums cover the entire cultural history of the Valais. The mission of the Cantonal Museums of the Valais is to assemble, conserve, study and make accessible to the public reference collections. The museums also maintain privileged relationships with other Valais cultural institutions, such as the Jardin alpin Flore-Alpe in Champex, the Musée de Bagnes in Le Châble, the Musée d'Isérables, the Musée des bisses in Ayent, the Musée du vin in Sierre and Salgesch, the Musée Olsommer in Veyras and the Lötschentaler Museum in Kippel.

Renovated in 2012, this museum presents a rich collection of antique clocks, from the 16th to the 19th century, and retraces the beginnings of watchmaking in the region. There is also a collection of Comtois clocks, restored by the students of the valley's technical school, future clockmakers, as well as watches created by valley companies in the 21st century. The renovation has modernised the space, which is now interactive and presents a watchmaking style that looks to the future.

This 16th-century manor house houses a museum of the Old Valais and of vine and wine, with interesting collections of traditional and ancient objects such as winegrowers' tools. Other rooms display paintings. But more earthly pleasures are also on offer thanks to the restaurant which serves opulent raclettes accompanied by the famous Valais wines which, after a visit to the museum, will no longer hold any secrets for you.

Located on the banks of the Tsittoret bisse, it can be reached by the Aminona cable car. The museum evokes life on the mountain pastures, with traditions such as the inalpe and desalpe, and local products (milk, butter, cheese). It is housed in three mayens (small traditional Valais houses) in the Crans-Montana region, which have been dismantled and rebuilt according to traditional architectural rules. Next door: a visitor center with restaurant and terrace.

If you want to know everything about the specific wines of the Valais, here is a huge cellar where you can discover all the aspects of wine making. From the reception of the grape harvest to the bottling process and to finish the visit in the oenotheque where you will taste a selection of wines according to the chosen formula. Here you will be shown everything up to the wine ageing cellar where the oak barrels rest. Tradition, technology and respect for the environment are the key words of this establishment. Various Swiss AOC grape varieties are represented, more than 500 wines to taste or buy.

Important scientific collections which are a reference for the identification of species present in Valais and the Alps: about 3 500 rocks and minerals, 650 fossils, 20 000 plants in Valais and 3 500 animals.

The Théâtre de Beausobre offers an extensive programme of concerts and shows of all kinds: theatre, humor, magic, musical theatre, song, world music, opera, gospel… In May-June, the theatre hosts an international comedy festival, Morges-sous-Rire, very popular.

A walk in the heart of nature! Unique in Switzerland, the Arboretum is a vast park featuring 4,000 species and varieties of trees and shrubs from every continent that can be acclimatized in this beautiful region. In the heart of the park, the Musée du Bois houses a collection of woodworking tools. Tools for carpenters, winnowers, luthiers and clog makers are among the 1,500 exhibits in the 6,000-strong collection.

The second floor of the château (where the historical museum is located) is devoted to the many souvenirs of past winegrowers' festivals: costumes, models, flags, archives, films, engravings, photographs... perfect for immersing yourself in this original tradition of Vevey life. It's also here that the brotherhood's council meets to prepare for future festivities, notably the famous Fête des Vignerons, which takes place about once every twenty years.

After the war, this ^16th-century residence, threatened with demolition, was saved by a bank and became home to Vevey's historical museum, as well as the Confrérie des Vignerons, which took over ownership in 1986. The building was restored, in particular the roof structure, where suitcases and other objects belonging to the various residents were discovered. Eight exhibition rooms, alternating regional themes and original collections.

Located on the main operational base of the Swiss military aviation on the side of the nerve centre of the Payerne air base, this museum presents the military aeronautics of the second half of the 20th century. From the museum you can see military aircraft taking off at any time. The 3,500^m2 exhibition features a collection of nine aircraft and two helicopters. The jets are a unique sight. On the first floor, you will discover the world of a maintenance workshop, exhibitions on the squadrons and a collection of model aircraft.

One of the largest Romanesque monuments in Switzerland. Housed in the former conventual buildings of the monastery, the Payerne Museum presents the permanent collections of General Jomini, Napoleon's seer, and the painter Aimée Rapin (born without arms). Throughout the year, the gallery organises exhibitions of prestigious artworks such as Utrillo, Manessier, Le Corbusier, Hans Erni and Pietro Sarto. The discovery tour "Une si belle histoire" offers an immersive and interactive experience in twenty audio-guided stations to learn all the secrets.

Founded in 1985 by Jean Bindschedler and Marie-José Aebi, then street puppeteers at La Samaritaine in Fribourg, this museum presents the rich collection assembled by the two artists during their travels. The collection includes shadows and puppets of various techniques from all over the world, including China, India, Indonesia, Africa, South America and various European countries, including Switzerland. It also includes magnificent paper theaters, masks and sets.

Fri-Art, founded at the end of the 1970s in the former seminary of Fribourg, has been housed since 1990 in a former 19th-century factory near the Motta baths in the old town. It is an ambitious centre for contemporary art, committed to mediating between the Swiss and international scene in its most current developments. A laboratory for the various artistic movements of today's art. Numerous exhibitions punctuate the year with artistic and cultural discoveries. It is also a place of exchange with the artists.

Built on the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa, the museum recounts, through mosaics, murals and bronze statuettes, the rich Roman heritage of the region. The two mosaics fully preserved, one of 97 m ², the other of 25 m ², are remarkable archaeological treasures.

Situated on the edge of the lake (and the motorway for that matter) and surrounded by a large park, the Laténium takes us on a journey through the history of mankind through open-air displays and archaeological reconstructions. The visit begins with the Middle Ages and continues to the Neanderthal period, through the presentation of various objects: jewellery, everyday objects, boats, weapons, sculptures, all part of the world of the past.

Built in the 12th century, this castle was probably destroyed and restored many times, becoming Romanesque in the 13th century, Gothic in the 15th... Its final alterations, from 1955 to 1958, turned it into the museum we know today and which provides many explanations on wine production in the Neuchâtel region. The Musée de la Vigne traces the history of local viticulture and production techniques. You can discover the grape varieties used locally, such as Chasselas or Pinot Noir Gris, and all the advances in blending.

The Nagulschbalmu alpine hut, built in 1606 by the Schweri family, was originally a recommended stop on the Riederalp alp. Today you can visit the museum, the cheese-making kitchen, the cheese cellar, the stable with its hand-forged chains and the hayloft, which is now an exhibition room on the alpine economy. Meetings are organised such as the butter-making process with comments from local people who keep this know-how alive.

The Matterhorn will no longer hold any secrets for you. You will find all the necessary information on the historical and mythical ascents such as the first one on July 14, 1865. This ascent still raises questions because the rope broke on the way down. Just next door, an English church has been built, with a small cemetery, and a tiny library where the inhabitants can borrow novels in English. Services are held in the same language.

Switzerland's largest manor house! It was built between 1658 and 1678 by Kaspar Jodok de Stockalper to designs by architects Bolmer and Prismell. The main building and the courtyard with its Renaissance-style arcades are protected by three Baroque towers topped by bulbous roofs. These impressive towers symbolized Stockalper's power. Indeed, this man, born in 1609, left his mark on the city. A renowned lawyer and respected politician, he soon became one of the most powerful figures in the Valais.

In a building built in 1923-1926, the works of famous artists come alive. The architecture of the building is a fine example of Art Deco inspired by the architect René Chapallaz and the artist Charles L'Eplattenier, teacher of the future Le Corbusier at the city's art school. You will be able to admire a very fine collection of Swiss and international art from the 19th and 20th centuries, bequeathed by Mrs. Junod, including some great names of artists: Matisse, Derain, Le Corbusier of course. The 19th century is represented by Van Gogh, Pissarro..

Housed in a 19th century bourgeois villa, a stone's throw from the International Watchmaking Museum and the Fine Arts Museum, the History Museum has a new museography. The permanent exhibition retraces the history of the watchmaking city, which was the birthplace of Le Corbusier, in a chronological and thematic way. In the course of a richly documented tour, visitors follow in the footsteps of the men, women and historical events that have contributed to shaping the identity of the watchmaking city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Close to the main square, the Musée des Beaux-Arts welcomes you with its fine regional pieces from the ^19th and ^20th centuries, as well as works by major artists such as Dufy and Renoir. The museum's collections boast over five thousand pieces, including numerous paintings, watercolors and drawings. Emphasis is placed on Swiss artists, but exhibitions of high-quality international works are programmed throughout the year. Lectures and guided tours punctuate the museum's agenda, bringing the works to life through the eyes of passionate visitors.

Travelers, art lovers from Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, this is a must-see visit. It is a journey before time and a discovery to admire pure wonders. This small museum exhibits true masterpieces of the so-called "primitive" art. Jewelry, ornaments, statues, textiles: each exhibition highlights some of the most beautiful pieces of a rich collection of 7,000 works, gathered by the collector Jean-Paul Barbier-Mueller, revealing the traditional arts of the whole world through history. A treat!

The Villa Les Délices - Voltaire's main residence from 1755 to 1760 - was a hotbed of literary creation and philosophical reflection. The poem about the Lisbon earthquake was partly written here, as was Candide, and d'Alembert was welcomed in the grand salon when he wrote his "Geneva" article for theEncyclopédie. Thanks to its permanent collection, Les Délices now offers visitors the chance to relive these key moments of the Age of Enlightenment during events and guided tours.

When you walk down the Grand-Rue, the main street of the old town, you will discover a plaque with the inscription: "It is great occasions that make great men" Welcome to the birthplace of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, born on June 28, 1712. This beautiful house with its cream-colored stones is a place for meetings and debates. Thus, the house where this great man of letters was born is still a center of activity in the literary world.

A visit not to be missed, it's an excellent concept. The "Sciences Gateway" designed by CERN has just opened its doors. The idea? The aim of this center for scientific education and culture is to bring the nature of CERN's research within the reach of the general public, and to inspire new vocations in young people! Everything is designed to enable visitors to conduct their own physics experiments. There's nothing quite like the grounds.

Designed by the famous architect Renzo Piano, the structure of this new museum may seem strange at first glance. It's made up of three pavilions, two giant "tubes" and a long glass walkway connecting the two. When you're inside one of them, the idea is to recreate the same kind of atmosphere as if you were inside the LHC. These gigantic tubes are the image of the LHC, the famous particle gas pedal, consisting of an underground ring 27 km in circumference, installed 100 m underground. This increases the speed of the particles (ions and protons belonging to the Hadron group) circulating within it. These particles travel at close to the speed of light, and are split into two beams in opposite directions. These beams are then triggered to collide in the control center, at four points in the system - the particle detectors ATLAS, CMS, Alice and LHcb. In this way, for example, one of these "experiments" can recreate a situation that occurred just after the famous Big Bang.

The bridge between the two enormous tubes symbolizes the link between science and society. As CERN's Director so aptly explains, the aim is "to make CERN's research known to the public, to show the importance of fundamental research and its applications to society, and above all, to arouse the interest of all visitors and encourage young people to pursue careers in science... a place where scientists and the public can interact on a daily basis". A winning bet!

You'll be able to do hands-on experiments - numerous workshops for children and adults, led by CERN scientists, and guided tours, are organized every day. You can attend scientific shows, immerse yourself in immersive environments and engage in interactive activities.

A modular amphitheater hosts conferences for scientists, schools and the general public, as well as temporary exhibitions.

The center is organized around three main themes:

Discovering the Universe, Exploring the Unknown and Back to the Big Bang. This first exhibition is fascinating, as are the rest. Go back in time... Start with the film showing the evolution of the universe since the Big Bang, 13.8 billion years ago. Great unknowns remain. What was there before the Big Bang? Why did it happen? What is the dark matter that makes up 27% of our universe? What about 'dark energy', which makes up 68% of our universe? Are there any parallel universes? What about the journey of these particles, which form the basis of our constitution? Did you know that we are made up of stardust?

In this exhibition, you can discover the subtleties of star nucleosynthesis, create your own star and launch it into the universe (in this case, it will simply be projected onto a wall, and your imagination will do the rest), and understand its life cycle. Other experiments let you play with antimatter and discover the various phases in the evolution of the universe....

Discover CERN You're in the thick of things, as you discover how the LHC works. accelerate' and 'Experiment'. Two life-size models, with a working gas pedal, and "experiment" with a particle detector cross-section. How do particles collide? These exhibits provide a better understanding of the LHC at work underground - the site is not open to the public - and how it was set up How are the results of the famous 'experiments' analyzed when the particles collide? How does the control room work? (you can also visit it on a guided tour) The presence of scientists is of the utmost importance. Ask them questions! You'll get a better understanding of how the LHC works by exploring the famous tunnel or... playing soccer with protons.

The world of quantum physics Introduce yourself to quantum physics... Don't miss the famous "initiation" and explanatory tour. Equipped with goggles, you can step into the shoes of a... particle... It's a brilliant idea, but if some aspects of it still seem obscure, there's nothing like immersing yourself in a book like "Quantum Physics for Dummies". It's fascinating! You'll discover the world seen on the scale of the smallest elementary particles. Remember the story of Schrödinger's famous cat, the physicist who, in 1935, theorized in his box about what is both dead and alive? In a nutshell, it's a science that seeks to explain the behavior of atoms and particles, i.e. matter on an atomic scale, and to understand electromagnetic radiation. Try your hand at experiments, and you'll understand much better!

This is the money! 2000 years of money production and almost 100 000 coins. It is one of Switzerland's most important numismatic museums. Its precious collections range from antiquity (with paleo-currency) to these days in a very didactic manner. they highlight the different manufacturing processes of history, including tools, currencies, medals and tokens, scales, books and boxes of changers, money orders and currency. To note, a beautiful series of vaudois, medieval and modern seals.

The Musée Lapidaire presents an exceptional collection of Merovingian and Carolingian monolithic sarcophagi. It is housed in the former Saint-Pierre church, rebuilt in 1982 after being demolished in 1898. In addition to the sarcophagi, visitors can also admire architectural and sculptural elements from earlier buildings in Saint-Ursanne. Guided tours are also available by appointment.

Located in Porrentruy, Switzerland, Ô Vergers d'Ajoie is a museum dedicated to fruit and distillation. The museum offers visitors the chance to discover the history and techniques of fruit and spirits production in the region. Visitors can reach the museum by using the address Combe Bruequelin 27 in Porrentruy.

It offers a variety of exhibitions and collections of interest to art and history lovers. Visitors can discover temporary exhibitions such as "Portraits" and "Les Armoiries - Figures et couleurs de notre identité". The museum also houses permanent exhibitions such as "Sports en Ajoie - Passions et patrimoine" and "Gérard Bregnard - Dans l'infini du rêve". Lovers of poetry will appreciate the exhibition devoted to Alexandre Voisard, entitled "Les quatre coins du ciel" ("The four corners of the sky"). The museum also has a store where visitors can purchase souvenirs and publications related to the exhibitions.

JURASSICA Dinotec is an open-air museum offering visitors the chance to discover dinosaur footprints. These sauropod and theropod footprints are displayed in the courtyard of the Technical Division building of the Centre jurassien d'enseignement et de formation. Visitors can also admire life-size sketches of dinosaurs and two clocks that provide a better understanding of geological time compared to precise time measurement. To get to JURASSICA Dinotec, visit the Cité des Microtechniques in Porrentruy, in the inner courtyard of the Centre jurassien d'enseignement et de formation.

The museum's website offers information on events, world and national art collections, public relations, restoration laboratory, history, tour program, job opportunities and contacts. The museum's address is str. 31 August 1989, nr. 115, Chișinău 2012, Moldova.