Museum Burg Zug

About the museum

The castle in Zug’s old town centre is considered the oldest surviving secular building in the city and is under national heritage protection. Its beginnings go back to the 12th century; excavations have documented 26 construction phases from the 8th to the 20th century. Around 1300 it belonged to the Habsburgs, who at times pledged it to the Knights of Hünenberg. After Zug joined the Swiss Confederation in 1352, Peter V of Hünenberg became the first private owner, and influential Zug families later lived here.

In 1945 the City of Zug acquired the property. In 1975 the canton, city, civic community and Korporation Zug established a foundation to fund the restoration and museum operations. The castle was comprehensively renovated between 1978 and 1982; after a first exhibition at a temporary venue in 1979, the museum opened in the castle on 14 May 1983.

Today the museum collects, documents and presents Zug history from the High Middle Ages to the present. The permanent exhibition was redesigned in 2024 and is divided into thematically distinct rooms, such as the Landtwing Cabinet, the Hediger Room with middle-class domestic culture around 1900, the Bürgerstube (burghers’ parlour), a 1930s shoemaker’s workshop and the Luthiger Pharmacy. Of the museum’s roughly 50,000 objects, only a fraction of about 1,000 pieces is on display at any one time; one cabinet shows changing finds from the depot.

Highlights

• Oldest surviving secular building in the city of Zug with 26 documented construction phases
• Redesigned permanent exhibition on Zug history (2024)
• Historic rooms: Landtwing Cabinet, Hediger Room, Bürgerstube, tower room
• 1930s shoemaker’s workshop and Luthiger Pharmacy
• Children’s room, knights’ costumes and family tours
• Castle café with summer seating in the courtyard

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung zur Zuger Geschichte – The exhibition, redesigned in 2024, leads through rule and war in the Middle Ages, Baroque piety, domestic culture, crafts and coinage in Zug.
• Historische Räume der Burg – On view are, among others, the Landtwing Cabinet, the Hediger Room, the Bürgerstube, the tower room, a 1930s shoemaker’s workshop and the Luthiger Pharmacy.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Stiftung Museum in der Burg Zug

Director

Barbara Keiser (betriebliche Direktion) und Florence Anliker (künstlerische Direktion)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on the first Wednesday of every month

Free admission also for members of the Freunde Burg Zug and with the Swiss Museum Pass, Raiffeisen card (members) and Swiss Travel Pass.

Accessibility

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

Lift (102 × 110 cm, door width 89 cm) up to the 3rd floor; the 4th floor is reachable only by stairs, as are some rooms (cafeteria, tower room, play room, attic studio). The main entrance is not step-free: the wheelchair-accessible entrance is at the staff entrance (ring the bell or call), and a mobile ramp is available. Wheelchair-accessible toilet in the basement (147 × 160 cm). Tours with sign language interpretation on request via procom. Disabled parking at the Casino, about 300 m away (paved path).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

For children there is the “Burgtasche” castle bag (ages 4–6), the “Lili” fan (ages 5–9, German, English, French) with armour try-on, as well as an Actionbound treasure hunt and a podcast (ages 8 and up). In the children’s room you can build castles, dress up as a knight or princess and play with sword and shield. Family adventure tours with medieval characters (ages 5 and up) and children’s birthday parties (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2:30–4:30 p.m.).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The castle café offers self-service drinks and snacks, in summer with seating in the courtyard. The museum shop sells souvenirs, toys, books, coffee, tea, games, postcards and craft items.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The courtyard and rooms can be rented for private events, with catering or apéro options. From 2026, civil weddings take place on selected Fridays in the attic studio and the Hediger Room (booking via the civil registry office).

Plan your visit