What to do and see in Bourg-de-Four, Canton of Geneva: The Best Museums

Built between 1903 and 1910 by Genevan architect Marc Camoletti, with the aim of regrouping under one roof a number of dispersed public collections, the Musée d'art et d'histoire is one of Switzerland's most important encyclopaedic museums. Boasting over half a million objects including a number of major works and unique series that have made it an institution of international stature, the museum maintains a permanent exhibition of a selection of itsapplied arts, fine arts and archaeology collections. Regional archaeological discoveries, Egyptian and Classical antiquities, artworks, furniture, arms, musical instruments, paintings and sculptures all bear witness to 15,000 years of history. A renovation and enlargement project is currently underway and constitutes one of the major challenges facing the Museum over the coming years.

The MIR (International Museum of the Reformation) in Geneva retraces the history of the Reformation movement initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and others. Through objects, books, manuscripts, paintings and engravings, the museum tells the story of the movement that spread in part from Geneva during the 16th century and grew into one of the main families of Christian churches. In 2007, the Museum won the Council of Europe Museum Prize. This important distinction has been handed out every year since 1977 to an institution that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the cultural heritage of Europe. The Museum is located on Cour Saint-Pierre in the magnificent Maison Mallet. This historic dwelling was built during the 18th century on the former site of the cathedral cloisters where the Reformation was voted in 1536.