Écomusée de l'API
Industrial heritage in Geneva's Saint-Jean district: workshop and museum space of the Association pour le Patrimoine Industriel with historic printing and machine tools.
No sound? Check your device’s silent switch.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Écomusée belongs to the Association pour le Patrimoine Industriel (API), which was founded in 1979 and preserves tangible and intangible industrial heritage in Geneva. The association uses two historic sites: an industrial building with a stock of old, still-working machines at Rue du Vuache 25, and the Imprimerie des Arts at Rue des Corps-Saints 10.
Its self-image draws on the founder of ecomuseums, Georges-Henri Rivière: a place where past and present come together, a school, a laboratory, a preserver and a mirror. The heritage is preserved and brought to life through exhibitions, events, courses, guided tours and a working former print shop. In the bookbinding, screen-printing and typography workshops, specialists pass on their knowledge to new generations.
The association also sees itself as a social and solidarity-based institution: it employs students and people in vocational reintegration in the Brigades d'Utilité Publique. Changing exhibitions, publications and neighbourhood projects complement the museum space; between autumn 2026 and autumn 2028 the API is also studying the industrial heritage of the surrounding districts.
Highlights
- Stock of old, working industrial and printing machines
- Workshops for bookbinding, screen printing, typography and linocut
- Guided tours of the workshops and museum space on request
- Imprimerie des Arts, former print shop with original machines
Permanent exhibition
- Museumsraum mit betriebsbereitem Maschinenpark – Historic industrial and printing machines from the API's holdings, which continue to be kept in operation and used in workshops.
- Operated by
- Association pour le Patrimoine Industriel (API)
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Prairie
Bus 6, 9, 10 and 19 to "Prairie"; bus 7 to "Ormeaux"; tram 15 to "Mercier"; 8 minutes' walk from Geneva Cornavin station.
Near the Collège Voltaire.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours of the workshops, the museum space with the operational machines and the exhibition space on request; courses and discovery workshops (bookbinding, typography, drawing, linocut); adapted visits and demonstrations for teachers. |
