Important European Museums Located in Zurich

One of the best ways to get a sense of a particular culture or regional society when traveling is to explore the traditional performances, the local cuisine options and also to visit the museums. While some museums in major cities, and frequently the most popular and well known, are the iconic art museums, modern art museums and other similarly themed institutions. And these are great attractions and are always recommended visitation aspects for any vacation. However, there are also museums that focus on and highlight the history and culture of a particular city or region and these are also great ways of exploring that region specifically.

The city of Zurich in Switzerland is one of the great, beautiful historic cities of the world and one of the things it is known for is the amount of and quality of the galleries and museums it has. Frequently the city is referred to as the cultural capital of Switzerland and this is due to a large extent on its interest in and support of the arts. This is immediately noticeable to the guests staying in one of the Zurich hotels . The Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus are two of the most prestigious and well-respected museums in the country.

The Kunsthaus was established and opened in 1910. It is recognized as housing one of the most important collections of art not only in Switzerland but also throughout Europe. There are works that date from the Middle Ages to contemporary genres and the museum has a strong focus on Swiss art. The building was designed by Robert Curjel and Karl Moser. Some of the most prominent works within it are by Edvard Munch and Alberto Giacometti. The Swiss National Museum is housed in a building that was built in 1898 and was designed in the style of a French Renaissance chateau. The elaborate design of the building, which was developed by Gustav Gull, features towers and courts with beautiful garden areas and itself is one of the iconic attractions of the city. Some of the important works of art in the museum include comprehensive collections from the Gothic era as well as many works dating from the Middle Ages to the present. Some of the featured pieces include works in sculpture, paintings and carved altars.