Gletschergarten Luzern

About the museum

On 2 November 1872, while building a wine cellar, Josef Wilhelm Amrein-Troller came across the first glacier potholes, which had been formed some 20,000 years ago by an Ice Age glacier. Over the following years he uncovered them and on 1 May 1873 opened the museum on his property. After his early death, his widow Marie Amrein-Troller continued to run the Gletschergarten and expanded it.

The site grew to include buildings such as the Schweizerhaus, which serves as the museum, a clubhouse with a glacier diorama, and the historic mirror maze “Alhambra”, which was created in 1896 for the national exhibition in Geneva and has stood in Lucerne since 1899. The museum includes a mineral collection, fossils and dinosaur tracks, a mammoth tusk, the skeleton of a cave bear, and the Pfyffer Relief, the world's oldest relief model of mountains, dating from the 18th century.

Today the property with its natural monument and historic museum building belongs to a non-profit foundation. A more recent extension opened the Felsenwelt (Rock World) in 2022, which leads to the lookout tower on the Sommerau, and created a pavilion for exhibitions and a small cinema. The Alpine park with plants from the Alps and prehistoric times rounds off the grounds.

Highlights

• Glacier potholes from the Ice Age
• Felsenwelt with access to the lookout tower
• Pfyffer Relief, the world's oldest relief model of mountains
• Historic mirror maze from 1896
• Alpine park with glacier diorama
• Mineral collection, mammoth tusk and cave bear skeleton

Permanent exhibitions

• Gletschertöpfe und Felsenwelt – The spectacular glacier potholes from the Ice Age and the Felsenwelt inside the hill, which leads to the lookout tower.
• Museum im Haus der Familie Amrein – The founding family, the Pfyffer Relief, minerals, fossils, dinosaur tracks, mammoth tusk and cave bear skeleton in the former residential house.
• Alpenpark mit Diorama und Spiegellabyrinth – A park with Alpine flora and prehistoric plants, a diorama of the Gornergrat glacier and the historic mirror maze.

Founded

1873

Operated by

Stiftung Gletschergarten Luzern

Admission & discounts

According to the museum, free admission for holders of the Swiss Museum Pass, the Lucerne Museum Pass, the Swiss Travel Pass, the Raiffeisen MemberPlus card as well as ICOM, VMS and press cards; the Lucerne Visitor Card gives a discount. Group and Museum Pass tickets are available only at the ticket desk; other tickets also online.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

Many areas are step-free, and there are lifts, accessible toilets and aids for visually impaired visitors; an audio description tour for blind and visually impaired visitors is available in four languages. The museum offers advice on accessibility in advance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Family treasure hunt “Lily & Börni” with audio play, mirror maze, film on Earth and climate history, Generations Ticket for families and bistro with children's menu; storage for prams and scooters.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located directly next to the Lion Monument. Bicycle parking at the entrance, Nextbike station at Löwenplatz.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Bistro with hot dogs, pinsa and cake (daily during opening hours, 40 seats inside, 30 on the sun terrace); museum shop next to the bistro; picnic areas on the roof terrace at the Schweizerhaus and on the Sommerau; storage for prams and luggage.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 300 guests.

Rooms and the whole site (up to 300 people) for company events, aperitifs and parties; the bistro is also available as an event venue.

Plan your visit