Naturhistorisches Museum Bern

On nature’s trail

Popular in Bern - observed in the whole world. The Natural History Museum Bern was officially founded in 1832. In 1936 it moved into a new building in Bernastrasse deemed an excellent example of the “Neue Sachlichkeit“ style. The building was extended in 1998. The museum has 5100 square metres of exhibition space and an international reputation founded initially on its historical dioramas. Aside from Barry, the NMBE is famous for housing the giant Planggenstock crystals and for outstanding contemporary exhibitions such as the prize-winning “c’est la vie“. The museum's collection contains around 6.5 million objects. The Naturhistorisches Museum Bern is also a place of research conducted by the 22 scientists responsible for the collections, and functions as a venue for cultural events - most recently the “Help, it's alive!“ series and the “Dead animal bar“.

This museum greets you in the following languages: D/F/E
Special expositions like "Barry" are accessable in english. All other exhibition texts are availale on the Mobile App "IZI-Travel" (free access).
Opening 1832

Current exhibitions

The Planggenstock Treasure

01.05.2011 - 30.05.2025

On September 21st 2005 the crystal hunters Franz von Arx and Paul von Känel opened up a cavity in the rock of their exploratory mine on the Planggenstock peak in the canton of Uri. There, glinting in the light of their torches, were almost fifty large, unusually clear and perfectly formed quartz crystals and crystal clusters. The two were looking at one of the largest and most important finds which the alps had yielded for around 300 years.

The exhibition is documented in the following languages: D/F/E

Gallery of Bones

01.06.2011 - 28.06.2030

Switzerland's biggest skeletons collection has been reorganized with 328 skeletons and skulls now on display.

The exhibition is documented in the following languages: D

Barry – The legendary St Bernard Dog

13.06.2014 - 28.06.2024

Barry, the most famous rescue dog in the world, died 200 years ago but remains a legend to this day. Barry can be admired at the Natural History Museum Bern, where a new exhibition explores the heroic deeds attributed to this extraordinary St Bernard from the Great St Bernard Pass. The question is, which of the stories surrounding him are fact and which are myths? The exhibition tells the whole truth.

The exhibition is documented in the following languages: D/F/I/E

Cabinet of Curiosities – the display collection

15.12.2020 - 02.01.2064

Ein Gang durch die «Wunderkammer» gibt Einblick in die aktuelle Sammlungstätigkeit, moderne Untersuchungsmethoden und unersetzliche historische Sammlungen – ein aussergewöhnlicher Rundgang zu einem der drängendsten Probleme der Gegenwart.

Bis am 22. Januar 2021 an Sonn- und Feiertagen geschlossen.

The exhibition is documented in the following languages: D/F/E
Guided tours are offered in the following languages: D

Naturhistorisches Museum Bern

01.05.2022 - 31.12.2099

Barry, the giant crystals from Planggenstock and award-winning exhibitions: The Bern Museum of Natural History is one of the most important nature museums in Switzerland.

The exhibition is documented in the following languages: D/F/I/E