Museum Franz Gertsch

About the museum

In April 1998 the Burgdorf industrialist Willy Michel met the artist Franz Gertsch in his studio in Rüschegg. Fascinated by the works, he decided to build a museum for a future Gertsch collection on the site of the former Milka cheese dairy. The firm Jörg & Sturm, which had won the urban planning competition, received the commission; construction began in summer 2000, and the museum opened in October 2002.

The core of the collection is the Stiftung Willy Michel, founded in autumn 2001, into which Michel contributed five paintings and several woodcuts and Gertsch contributed further woodcuts. The museum thus holds a large part of the work from 1987 to 2017. Since 1 August 2024 the foundation has been called Stiftung Museum Franz Gertsch.

The architecture consists of three concrete cubes placed directly next to one another, with indirect lighting. In 2019 a sculptural extension by Martin Sturm in the form of a seasons clock was added, with around 300 square metres of exhibition space and three further rooms. On a good half of the exhibition space, the museum shows temporary exhibitions of contemporary art alongside Gertsch.

Highlights

• Museum for Franz Gertsch with woodcuts and paintings from 1984 to the present
• Architecture by Jörg & Sturm with an extension from 2019
• Four Seasons Room
• Artcafé with lunch menus in the museum
• Children's studio and open painting workshop

Permanent exhibition

• Franz Gertsch – Gemälde und Holzschnitte – The collection comprises works by Franz Gertsch from the years since 1984, including the paintings "Silvia I" and "Gräser I–IV" as well as numerous large-format woodcuts.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Stiftung Museum Franz Gertsch

Director

Arno Stein

Admission & discounts

Free: children up to and including age 10, school classes, refugees with status F, N or S, Freunde Museum Franz Gertsch, members of the Bernische Kunstgesellschaft and the Kunsthalle Bern, Museums-PASS-Musées, Museum Pass, Raiffeisen members and Plus customers, and members of Visarte.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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: no information

The museum describes itself as 100% wheelchair accessible; you can drive right up to the entrance. A wheelchair can be rented from the partner RS Hilfsmittel (report weight and size by email five days in advance).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Children's studio for children aged 5 and over on every 2nd and 4th Sunday (2 pm to 4.30 pm, except during the summer holidays): child-friendly tour and open workshop, CHF 10 including admission. Also a family ticket and an open painting workshop.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Artcafé in the museum (Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm), lunch menus Tuesday to Friday, snacks and cake at the weekend; museum shop.

Events & venue rental

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

Up to 200 guests.

Exhibition rooms can be rented exclusively (e.g. Four Seasons Room 100–150 people, Room 4 up to 200 people), catering through the Artcafé; also wedding ceremonies.

Plan your visit