Kunstmuseum Thun
Municipal art museum in the former Grand Hotel Thunerhof with contemporary exhibitions and a collection focusing on Swiss Pop Art.
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About the museum
The impetus for the municipal art collection came in 1945 from the painter Alfred Glaus, who called for a public collection. The municipal council set up an art commission, Glaus became curator, and exhibition rooms were made available on the ground floor of the former Grand Hotel Thunerhof. The hotel had been built in the 1870s as Thun's first luxury hotel and was acquired by the city in 1942; in 1948 the art museum took over the right wing of the building.
In the years under Paul L. Ganz from 1954, the collection grew by more than 600 works. In 1958 and 1959 the largest work in the collection was restored, the Panorama of Thun by Marquard Wocher, which has been on display in the rotunda in Schadaupark since 1961. In 1959 the Vereinigung der Freunde der Kunstsammlung, today's friends' association, was founded. Under George J. Dolézal, a new collection focus on Swiss Pop Art developed from the mid-1970s, and since the 1980s art education has been an integral part of the museum.
Today the art museum shows three to four temporary exhibitions a year, mainly of contemporary art, and once a year presents a selection from the collection from a particular perspective. There is no permanent collection exhibition. The museum also looks after the Thun Panorama in Schadaupark.
Highlights
- Changing exhibitions of contemporary art in the former Grand Hotel Thunerhof
- Annual collection exhibition focusing on Swiss Pop Art
- Linked to the Thun Panorama by Marquard Wocher in Schadaupark
- Gallery texts in Easy Language and audio-described works
- Museum shop and Café Thunerhof on site
- Founded
- 1948
- Operated by
- Stadt Thun
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 8Students, apprentices, AHV (old-age pension), IV (disability insurance), Berner Oberland Pass |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 16 · Children and young people up to 16 years as well as school classes and teachers have free admission. |
| Seniors | CHF 8AHV (old-age pension) |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 8IV (disability insurance) |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 8Students and apprentices |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount with advance registration. |
| Combined ticket with Thun Panorama | CHF 15Reduced CHF 13. |
| #visitthun card (Kunstmuseum, Thun Panorama, Thun Castle) | CHF 22Reduced CHF 20; valid for one year. |
50% discount with KulturLegi, Panorama Card and Seepass; discounts cannot be combined. Free admission for refugees (with ID), with Museums-PASS-Musées, Swiss Museum Pass, Raiffeisen card with Museum Pass, ICOM, VISARTE, VMS and other memberships, and for members of the friends' association. Discount also with same-day tickets from certain other museums in the region.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description
The Thunerhof is largely wheelchair accessible; the main entrance is reached by steps, and the alternative entrance on the street side is recommended (doorbell, assistance). Disabled parking directly in front of the museum. Gallery texts are available in Easy Language, a selection of works from the collection is audio-described, and free tours with sign language interpretation are offered together with the IGGH.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 16 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
The education team offers tours for children, private workshops for children and adults, and children's birthday parties at the museum.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Thunerhof
Take the train to Thun SBB station, then a 7-minute walk or a 3-minute ride on bus line 21 (towards Beatenbucht) to the stop “Thunerhof”.
By car
Paid parking
Paid parking opposite the building.
- Accessible parking
By car, take the Thun Nord exit (towards Oberhofen, Interlaken). Direct trains every 30 minutes from Bern (20 minutes), Basel and Zurich (1 hour 25 minutes each).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Café Thunerhof (“Museumskafi”) with a terrace overlooking the Aare; museum shop with publications, art books, postcards and multiples.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Public tours, workshops, special tours and events are offered, as well as programmes for schools; for information and enquiries contact the art education team (vermittlung@thun.ch). |
