The best museums Geneva

Here is a real exploration in the skin of a zoologist, a specialist of the sea bed, a botanist, a geologist... This excellent museum, with a very dynamic management, obtains all the suffrages with the children as with the adults. It is a real journey before time, one could almost say that the animals have a "second life" installed in the heart of their natural environment. Each floor has recreated a new climatic environment. The world of the savannah is in the background to highlight the elephants, giraffes, antelopes, gazelles and wildcats, so much so that one could almost believe they are still alive.

We pass successively from continent to continent, in tropical countries, from the equator to the arctic, desert or temperate worlds. One passes to the world of birds, to the underwater world, to the mineral world, from floor to floor, without forgetting the presentation of the famous Lucy and the two-headed turtle, the highlight of the museum. The museum regularly organizes very good temporary exhibitions on the scientific issues of the future, current topics, including the environment, as well as conferences on geosciences, fossils, dinosaurs, volcanoes, or guided tours with exciting themes. Regularly: "Ciné-samedi/ciné-dimanche", Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm. Animations on Wednesdays from 2 to 4:30 pm. An excellent museum, therefore, of which the children do not get tired. We always go back there!

The museum is housed in a typical Carouge house, in the heart of a beautiful private garden in the middle of town. This charming building houses collections by local artists, including sculptures, photographs of contemporary ceramics, earthenware, enamels and works of fine art, reflecting the history of Carouge and its artistic evolution.

The exhibition "Espèce de cornichon" : art, cuisine et chirat, until May 2023, retraced the history of the gherkin through the centuries. A highly original theme.

A very beautiful residence houses the Graphic Arts Cabinet of the Museum of Art and History of Geneva. It is undoubtedly one of the most important European centres in the field of the conservation and dissemination of works on paper. It preciously preserves engravings, prints, drawings, pastels... Some 375,000 items are kept in this case, including the world's largest collection of works by Jean-Etienne Liotard and drawings by Ferdinand Hodler.

Opened in 1910 at the same time as the Geneva Museum of Art and History, it became a public library in 1911. It is the largest art library in Switzerland. Its collections are made up of works in all artistic fields: archaeology, fine arts, decorative arts, architecture, numismatics, museology, restoration, from prehistory to the contemporary era. More than 300,000 monographs, 6,000 journal titles and books.

Located on the Place de Neuve, opposite the Parc des Bastions, the neoclassical style of this building is reminiscent of a Greek temple. It is only open for temporary exhibitions (see the museum's website or that of the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire). This museum, which opened in 1826, was founded by the sisters of General Rath, a great art lover, and was the first Swiss fine arts museum. It regularly features interesting exhibitions, the most recent of which evokes the fascinating life of traveler Ella Maillart.

An excellent museum, simple and highly didactic, a must-see. A treasure trove for those who find the subtleties of the Reformation obscure, or who want to better understand Geneva's history. The museum's layout is highly educational. Before the advent of Protestantism, it's important to look at the historical context. Europe was in the grip of plague epidemics. Yesterday's convictions were being called into question. The Americas had just been discovered, the famous "great discoveries", and science was also challenging the great truths of the Church, which could no longer meet society's expectations. The Reformation? This is a movement of thought that seeks to take the founding texts of Christianity, the Bible, as its basis, without going through the interpretations of the Church. It was rooted in the humanism of the Renaissance, which was then in full swing. The Reformation was one of the key stages in Geneva's spiritual and political development. The museum is housed in a handsome ^18th-century mansion, the Maison Mallet. Located a stone's throw from Saint-Pierre Cathedral, it occupies the cathedral's former cloister. A highly symbolic location: on May 21, 1536, the Reformation was adopted here. A video in the entrance traces the history of Martin Luther, then that of Jean Calvin, through the wars of religion that tore France apart. In 9 stages, it tells the story of Protestantism from the ^16th century to the present day, from Luther's theses, born in part from the famous sale of indulgences by the Church to the faithful for the salvation of their souls. What price, then, for an assured passage to heaven? Luther was scandalized by these abuses of the Church, which was made rich by these particularly lucrative sales. These new ideas, revolutionary at the time, were widely disseminated thanks to the invention of the printing press. Books became accessible to a large population, 90% of whom were illiterate. Previously, their extremely high price and rarity made them accessible only to a very wealthy elite. Various personalities, including Luther and Calvin, put forward new ideas. Between 1562 and 1598, when Henry IV promulgated the Edict of Nantes, establishing tolerance between religions, France was bloodied by the Wars of Religion, culminating in the horror of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in 1572. The first caricatures appear, and the persecutions of French Huguenots, provoked by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes promulgated by Louis XIV in 1685, are evoked, culminating in the exile of Protestants to Switzerland, with the arrival of Calvin in 1536, and the role of Geneva in the influence and spread of Calvinism... On a fascinating map, you'll follow the journeys of Protestant refugees, from the arrival of the Mayflower in America in 1620, to the celebration of the first Thanksgiving, and the arrival of other refugees in Huguenot South Africa, convinced they were arriving in the Promised Land, with all the well-known consequences for the original inhabitants. In each land of exile, these emigrants brought with them their know-how: wine in South Africa, lace in Holland, the famous watchmaking in Switzerland.... What's also interesting is to see old and sometimes moving writings: a personal letter from Calvin, accounts of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacres, engravings, historical documents, original works and objects dating from the ^18th century wars of religion: bibles, old engravings of Geneva, Calvin's works in their original editions, portraits of the reformers, souvenirs of the persecutions and the Refuge. Don't miss the music room, where you can listen to true musical masterpieces inspired by Protestantism from the 16th^century to the present day, set against a backdrop of stained-glass colors. It has been said that "Catholicism is for the eyes, Protestantism is for the ears". Here's a magnificent example of this, as we listen to the beauty of South African, Ethiopian and Hungarian Reformed songs, songs in Old French, Aretha Franklin, and Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus", covered here by Johnny Cash.... Finally, the historical cellars offer a look at contemporary Protestantism around the world. Interesting debates are set up, and we listen to excerpts from Martin Luther King's magnificent speech. You'll also be able to read some wonderful quotes from thought-provoking personalities. These magnificent words include one from Desmond Tutu, an icon, like Nelson Mandela, in the fight against apartheid: "Be kind to white people, they need you to rediscover their humanity".

"In the footsteps of the Reformation": a 10-stop tour of the old town, duration 1 hour. You can download the tour and educational packs at www.musee-reforme.ch/ecoles/

Activities at the MIR for children: we're given an interactive screen, and when we place it in front of some of the paintings, the personality of the work comes to life and begins to evoke the historical context of its period, its role etc. Excellent! An audio guide in 10 languages is available free of charge.

The store : the museum shop offers a wide selection of specialist books on the Reformation.

If the theme of this museum - ceramics and glass - can leave some people cold, think again! It's well worth a visit - after a guided tour of the UN, for example, since it's right next door. The site is a jewel, well worth a visit for the richness of its collections, the beauty and refinement of its works, the quality and creativity of its exhibitions juggling contemporary and classical art. Housed in a beautiful, light-filled building, the museum is dedicated to the history and art of ceramics, glass and stained glass. Its collections, from Switzerland, Europe and the Far East, bring together pieces of unique beauty dating from the ^9th century to the present day. We learn a great deal, following step by step, around the world, the history of porcelain, imported from China to Europe by the ships of the East India Company. As the museum's curator asserts, ceramics, glass and stained glass, the "arts of fire", were born of the four elements, earth and sand, nourished by water, then shaped by fire and nurtured by air. A true "connection with nature". Then comes the artist's extraordinary inventiveness over time. It's a journey around the world, through history and cultures. Over the course of history, these pieces reflect the almost infinite creativity and refinement of artists from a wide variety of cultures, and the wealth of exchanges and influences between these same cultures. Is it because the museum is housed in a vast, luminous building, with an atmosphere that reflects its founder's openness to the world? Quite simply, it makes you feel good. Close to the UN, this imposing building with its imposing dome, dating from the late ^19th century, is surrounded by a beautiful park, the last remains of the vast estate of its founder, Gustave Revilliod (1817-1890). This wealthy man of letters was an exceptional traveler, art collector, archaeologist, scholar, humanist and polyglot, who traveled throughout Europe, the Orient and the rest of the world, bringing back masterpieces. He was passionate about everything: painting, sculpture, prints, textiles, furniture, ceramics, glass... As a patron of the arts, he travelled extensively and collected over 30,000 pieces, notably from the Far East. Today, the site houses over 28,000 pieces. The museum is well laid out, with large, well-lit rooms where the works are particularly well displayed. The museum evokes the odyssey of porcelain, which originated in China, appeared in the Middle East and then in Europe. It arrived by ship from the Middle Kingdom, and the round trip took eighteen months. Porcelain was a phenomenal success, but the secrets of its manufacture - jealously guarded by Chinese ceramists - remained unknown until the early ^18th century. The fascinating history of ceramics over the centuries right up to the present day is recounted here. You'll be able to admire sumptuous pieces originating in China, the famous blue and white ceramics, the three-colored ceramics, and ceramics adapted to Western orders. The representation of Westerners as seen by the Chinese on ceramics is not without its salt. Wherever you are in the world, the way you look at things differs according to your country of origin. Persian ceramics reflect a civilization of unique wealth and refinement. As you enter the site, you are impressed by the imposing entrance hall, the brightly-lit rooms and the imposing vaulted ceiling. The building was dedicated to Gustave Revilliod's mother - named Ariana. Its architecture is inspired by Baroque and Italian influences. Its appearance is imposing, to say the least.

Works are exhibited in large, bright rooms, arranged along circular galleries around or above the imposing entrance hall - a grand staircase had been planned when the building was designed, but the idea was eventually abandoned.

Take a break in the small salon on the first floor, where you'll hear some travel stories told by Gustave Revilliod himself. Fascinating memoirs in which this open-minded and curious man of the world recounts not only some of his travel experiences, but also his exasperation with an overly conventional, sclerotic society and its contemporaries. As he says, the latter drove him to go back to the other side of the world.

The park - most of which now belongs to the UN - has a few souvenirs, including a replica of a bell from Japan's Shinagawa temple,

The temporary exhibitions are well worth a look, and the presentation of the pieces is really well thought-out and highly original. The dynamism of the museum's team is to be commended, as they always combine intercultural, social and historical aspects.

Every first Sunday of the month, as well as on certain Thursdays, the museum organizes excellent free guided tours of current exhibitions, not to be missed if you're visiting Geneva during this period. To find out more about the various events and workshops organized by the museum, consult the agenda available directly on the website (www.musee-ariana.ch/fr/agenda).

From the outside, the MAMCO building, housed in an old, disused factory, looks rather unappealing. But think again! It owes its creation to Amam (Association des amis du musée d'Art moderne), founded in 1973. Many patrons wish to share their works. You don't need to be an Andy Warhol aficionado or an expert in contemporary art to appreciate the works. The Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain de Genève (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Geneva) is open to all visitors, from 0 to 150 years of age, whether or not they are art connoisseurs, and features 3,500 m² of exhibition space spread over several floors, in large, light-filled halls. As its name suggests, this museum is dedicated to contemporary art. Whether you like it or not, you won't remain indifferent to the works on display. A common thread that defines it? Its dynamism! The museum is constantly reinventing itself: in addition to the permanent exhibition, three temporary exhibitions are organized each year. The permanent works are regularly renewed, mingling with those in the temporary exhibition. You'll never get bored! The entity has built up a veritable collection of important works for Contemporary Art in Switzerland. Guided tours and public education are a constant feature, and the museum's ambition is to introduce newcomers to the richness of this heritage. And it succeeds! The MAMCO is full of surprises! The themes of the exhibitions are interesting, the ideas always very creative and the works very well presented.

Far Eastern art enthusiasts, this visit is for you! Sumptuous is the word to describe the collections of exceptional works from China and Japan assembled by Swiss collector Alfred Baur (1865-1951). He made his fortune trading in organic fertilizers in Sri Lanka, the country formerly known as Ceylon. On his return to Switzerland in 1906, he developed a passion for collecting Asian art, and began a parallel career as a "collector", focusing mainly on Japanese works, and later on Chinese ceramics. The works, all of great refinement, are displayed in a ^19th-century mansion. The museum is small, but well worth a visit. A staircase leads to the department specializing in China, then to Japan. The museum rooms are brightly lit, and the works are well displayed. You'll admire ceramics of perfect beauty and harmony, the earliest dating back to the Tang dynasty (618-907). A saddled horse testifies to the intensity of trade between China and the West via the Silk Road. These ceramics cover all dynasties up to the Qing (1644-1911). Jade objects, miniature tobacco flasks, perfume burners, cups and bowls, some Indian-influenced or inspired by Tibetan Buddhist art, date from the ^18th to the ^20th century. Note the jade objects, a reflection of the long and hard work involved. Jade - considered a symbol of purity and integrity in China - is perceived as a very precious stone. Very hard, it was considered indestructible. In addition to its high value, it was therefore associated with immortality, and jade was often placed in the graves of emperors and aristocrats. Imagine the time it took to carve a perfume burner, a bowl or a brush holder. Take a look at some of these highly original vases, in which Westerners - and not to their advantage - are depicted. It's interesting to discover how Easterners look at Westerners. In the 17th and 18th centuries, China and the Far East in general aroused great interest and admiration among Westerners. These famous "chinoiseries" were, at first, imitations of Chinese objets d'art made in the West, but the term was later extended to include objects made in China. Cloisonné enamels and remarkable Chinese textiles are also on display.

Don't miss the department dedicated to Japan. These collections date back to the Edo period and the Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras, stretching from the ^18th to the early ^20th century. It brings together everyday objects and fashion accessories, reflecting the influence of the outside world on Japan. You'll be seduced by the beauty of the prints. They represent the leisure activities of city dwellers. The faces of Kabuki theater actors, courtesans and, later, landscapes and heroes appeared. Netsuke, small ivory figurines used to hang various objects from belts, often depicting characters from Japanese mythology, were essential fashion accessories for city dwellers in the Edo period. On display are true marvels, including tea caddies, paint pots, sword ornaments, Japanese ceramics and tea sets. Writing cases include an ink stone, brush and cruet. During the Edo period, publishing was booming. These writing cases belonged to literati and wealthy city dwellers. The lacquers are exceptional, of uncommon refinement. They are made using gold - and mother-of-pearl, originally from China. To make an object, layers of lacquer were accumulated, and the craftsman then engraved his design. To decorate some of them, gold and silver flakes were applied with a bamboo stick and sprinkled on the surface. These are makis. Observe the finesse of the design on the Inro, the medicine boxes. In Japan, people don't bother with heavy furniture. So we used a plethora of chests, storage boxes and cases. The objects you see belonged, no doubt, to very wealthy citizens.

The "tea room" you'll see in an adjacent room, was installed in a pavilion reserved for this practice. Here, tea was served in the famous ceremony known as the "Japanese tea service". This is the Chanoyu, or Chado "way of tea" in Japanese. The event is much more than a simple gathering of friends. It's a traditional art inspired by Zen Buddhism, with each step highly codified. Did you know that the study of the tea ceremony can take several years? Both host and guest must know the chado, the various types of tea, how to serve, and on the guest's side, what words to say, the technique of drinking tea, the style of dress... Sword decorations are true masterpieces. In the Edo period, they embodied the soul of the Samurai. China has exerted an important influence in many fields in Japan over the past 5,000 years. Round off your visit with a visit to the Zen garden, a true reflection of the gardens you'll find in Japan!

The museum is worth a visit just for the beauty of its setting. Located in the heart of the Parc de la Perle, it is housed in the superb Villa Bartholoni, built in 1830. In very bright rooms with a superb view of the lake, a wide range of scientific objects dating from the 17th to the ^19th century are presented. You will be able to observe astronomical glasses and objects from other disciplines such as physics, electricity or meteorology.

Built in two stages (the plan has changed in the meantime!), between 1777 and 1826, this church in the Sardinian city was at the centre of the religious struggles between Catholics and radicals. It was in 1921 that the Roman Catholics recovered it. Musical treasures to discover: the church's carillon is one of the most important in Switzerland, in terms of number of bells and the historical organ dating from 1832 and rebuilt in 2010. Be discreet during the services. The Feast of the Holy Cross is on September 14.

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.

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!