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Café du Château

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Special opening times

  • Christmas Eve 24.12.2024 10:00 - 17:00

  • Christmas Day 25.12.2024 closed

  • St. Stephen's Day 26.12.2024 10:00 - 17:00

  • 30.12.2024 10:00 - 17:00

  • Labour Day 31.12.2024 10:00 - 17:00

  • New Year's Day 01.01.2025 closed

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  • Good Friday 18.04.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Easter Sunday 20.04.2025 10:00 - 17:00

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  • Ascension 29.05.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Whitsun 08.06.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Whit Monday 09.06.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Swiss National Day 01.08.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Swiss Federal Fast 21.09.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Monday of the Swiss Federal Fast 22.09.2025 closed

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Today

10:00 - 17:00

Opening times

Museum

  • openinghours.days.long.monday closed

  • openinghours.days.long.tuesday Open till openinghours.days.long.sunday openinghours.openfromto.long

Café du Château

  • openinghours.days.long.monday closed

  • openinghours.days.long.tuesday Open till openinghours.days.long.sunday openinghours.openfromto.long

Special opening times

  • Christmas Eve 24.12.2024 10:00 - 17:00

  • Christmas Day 25.12.2024 closed

  • St. Stephen's Day 26.12.2024 10:00 - 17:00

  • 30.12.2024 10:00 - 17:00

  • Labour Day 31.12.2024 10:00 - 17:00

  • New Year's Day 01.01.2025 closed

  • Berchtold's Day 02.01.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Good Friday 18.04.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Easter Sunday 20.04.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Easter Monday 21.04.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Ascension 29.05.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Whitsun 08.06.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Whit Monday 09.06.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Swiss National Day 01.08.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Swiss Federal Fast 21.09.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Monday of the Swiss Federal Fast 22.09.2025 closed

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What is Switzerland?

published on 3.6.2022

At 14:00 on 18 June, the Château de Prangins – Swiss National Museum opens the doors of its new permanent exhibition What is Switzerland? It sets out to explore the founding myths and clichés of Switzerland, and measure them against the everyday lives of its population from the 18th century to the present day. The young generations also have their say, linking the past to the future of a country of many more contrasts than one might suppose. The vernissage, which is open to the public, will take place in the presence of Vincent Kucholl and Vincent Veillon, as well as pupil-guides from schools in Vaud who took part in the project.

What is Switzerland? looks at a country that is often regarded as the world’s oldest democracy, but is also a major financial centre known for its armed neutrality. The exhibition adopts a thematic approach, exploring subjects such as identity, territory and the mountains, the family and the role of women, consumption and the food industry, work, democracy and neutrality. The picture that emerges is of a Switzerland whose history is rather less consensual and linear than clichés might suggest. With revolutions, strikes, youth revolts, feminist and environmental struggles, it has experienced many periods of tension and division that reveal key societal and political issues at work. Visitors are encouraged to challenge their own views of the country, its representations and its symbols.

The richness of Switzerland’s heritage is displayed through some 300 precious, unusual or everyday objects including an ingot mould, a piece of stone from the Gotthard and a time clock. Historical documents, audio testimonies, previously unseen photos and TV archives offer an account of social and cultural practices, as well as various aspects of political, economic and institutional history. What is Switzerland? is also a multi-sensory experience. While offering plenty to look at and listen to, it also engages the senses of smell and touch with, for example, unusual perfumes and a mixing desk of “typically Swiss” sounds.

The exhibition is aimed at both Swiss visitors interested in seeing another side of their country, and anyone living in Switzerland who wants to learn more about their host nation. Also designed for schools, What is Switzerland? has been created in close cooperation with a committee of teachers and school heads as an educational resource for teachers of history as well as other disciplines including geography, civics, languages and art. To promote inclusivity, the new tour additionally offers texts in simple language.

 

Project management and curatorship: Marie-Hélène Pellet and Nicole Staremberg

Images

Affiche exposition permanente - La Suisse. C'est quoi?

Ferdinand Hodler, Wilhelm Tell, 1896-1897, huile sur toile, 256 x 196 cm, Kunstmuseum Solothurn, en dépôt de Mme Margrit Kottmann-Müller en souvenir de son mari Dr. Walther Kottmann, 1958

©Musée national suisse

Mix & Remix, Paysage helvétique avec mythes et clichés

Mix & Remix, Paysage helvétique avec mythes et clichés, dessin, 2008. Reproduction LM 182003.1

©Musée national suisse

Jakob Tuggener, Emilie Kunz devant un métier Jacquard

Jakob Tuggener, Emilie Kunz devant un métier Jacquard, album d’entreprise à l’occasion du cinquantième anniversaire de la filature et fabrique de tissus Spinnerei und Weberei Glattfelden (ZH), 1943, . LM 117336.75

©Jakob Tuggener-Stiftung

Élément de mémoire du premier ordinateur des CFF

Élément de mémoire du premier ordinateur des CFF (Chemins de fer fédéraux). IBM 7070, 1961, verre, métal et matière plastique. LM 99137.1

©Musée national suisse

Abraham-Louis Breguet, Pendulette de voyage n°178

Abraham-Louis Breguet, Pendulette de voyage n°178 à répétition des quarts, date et phases lunaires, 1796, bronze doré, Paris. LM 71987

©Musée national suisse

Pussy Hat ou bonnet aux oreilles de chat

Pussy Hat ou bonnet aux oreilles de chat, 2017, laine, Zurich. LM 171912

©Musée national suisse

Scénographie exposition permanente La Suisse. C'est quoi?

Permanent exhibition What is Switzerland? - Entrance

©Musée national suisse

Scénographie exposition permanente La Suisse. C'est quoi?

Permanent exhibition What is Switzerland? - Room In search of identity

©Musée national suisse

Scénographie exposition permanente La Suisse. C'est quoi?

Permanent exhibition What is Switzerland? - Room Peak time!

©Musée national suisse

Scénographie exposition permanente La Suisse. C'est quoi?

Permanent exhibition What is Switzerland? - Room Free and liberated?

©Musée national suisse

Scénographie exposition permanente La Suisse. C'est quoi?

Permanent exhibition What is Switzerland? - Room A food revolution!

©Musée national suisse

Scénographie exposition permanente La Suisse. C'est quoi?

Permanent exhibition What is Switzerland? - Room A time for work and a time for leisure

©Musée national suisse

Scénographie exposition permanente La Suisse. C'est quoi?

Permanent exhibition What is Switzerland? - Room Rights to happiness

©Musée national suisse

Tatiana Oberson

Head of Marketing, Communication & Fundraising

Château de Prangins +41 22 994 88 68 tatiana.oberson@museenational.ch