Get your Swiss culture fix

Switzerland is known for its great variety of cultural events, great concerts, top-notch museums and high-quality galleries. Thus, for this month’s issue, we take a closer look at some of the inspiring cultural institutions Switzerland has to offer to find out about their current exhibitions, events and much more.

TEXT: NANE STEINHOFF & MONIQUE AMEND | TOP PHOTO © ST.GALLEN-BODENSEE TOURISMUS, SWISS-IMAGE.CH/DAMIAN IMHOF

The country represents so many different cultures and influences that typical Swiss art does not really exist. Switzerland is characterised by German, French and Italian influences and by the people coming from all over the world who found a home here. This makes it a paradise for art lovers because various personalities and customs come together here, interact and create something new. The Swiss cities are birthplaces and places of activity to numerous artists whose works can still be found here such as Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, Le Corbusier, Ferdinand Hodler and Alberto Giacometti. The literature and film scene has become more and more international and Swiss documentaries are regular contributions at festivals like Cannes and Berlin.

THE KUNSTMUSEUM WINTERHUR. PHOTO © SWITZERLAND TOURISM, SWISS-IMAGE/IVO SCHOLZ

That Switzerland is a country of collectors can be seen in the vast amount of museums, galleries, auctions and fairs. There is no other country with as many museums per head of the population as Switzerland. The Zentrum Paul Klee is dedicated to one of the icons of modern European art. Growing up in Switzerland, Paul Klee spent many years in Germany where he lectured at the famous Bauhaus, but came back to Switzerland in the 1930s. The centre, located in Bern, showcases a large amount of his work and is a must for all art lovers. Furthermore, the Kunsthaus Zurich shows other important collections: old masters, impressionists and expressionists or works of the Dada movement.

The Swiss design and architecture scene is also responsible for quite a few world icons. Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris – better known as Le Corbusier – was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss Jura. He is most famous for his functionalist architecture and his contribution to town planning. One of his designs has been restored in his hometown but others are spread around the world. The Tate Modern art gallery in London and the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games were created by the Basel-based architects Herzog & de Meuron. All of these great creators represent Switzerland’s finest art and culture.

To find more cultural highlights in Switzerland, please follow this link: www.discovergermany.com