Musée d’art et d’histoire Fribourg

About the museum

The beginnings of the Fribourg museum reach far back: in 1774 Tobie Gerfer bequeathed his medal collection to the library of the Jesuit college, laying the foundation of the city's first public collection. In 1823 a museum was set up in the college, which moved to the new Lyceum in 1838 and grew into an encyclopaedic collection. In 1849 the holdings were divided into natural history on the one hand and art and history on the other; from 1873 the canton systematically expanded the painting collection.

Important donations shaped the museum: in 1872 a large collection of weapons, in 1881 works by the sculptor and painter Adèle d'Affry, known as Marcello, and in 1917 the furniture and decorative arts collection of Countess de Saulxures, who made her gift conditional on its being shown in the Hôtel Ratzé. The museum moved there and opened in 1922.

The collection is strongly focused on the canton of Fribourg, but contains ensembles of international standing: early medieval belt buckles, the Easter Sepulchre (Holy Sepulchre) of the Maigrauge Abbey, retable panels by Hans Fries, late Gothic sculptures, and works by Marcello, Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle. In the garden stands Saint Phalle's "Grande Lune" alongside metal sculptures by artists such as Bernhard Luginbühl.

Highlights

• Retable panels by Hans Fries and late Gothic sculpture
• Works by Marcello (Adèle d'Affry) and other 19th-century artists
• Early medieval belt buckles and goldsmiths' work
• Garden with "Grande Lune" by Niki de Saint Phalle
• Combined ticket with the Espace Jean Tinguely – Niki de Saint Phalle

Permanent exhibition

• Sammlung des Musée d’art et d’histoire – The permanent display shows sculpture and painting from the 12th to the 16th century, goldsmiths' work, weapons, decorative arts, stained glass, and 19th- and 20th-century art from the canton of Fribourg.

Operated by

Kanton Freiburg

Director

Ivan Mariano

Visitors per year

approx. 36,000

Admission & discounts

Free admission for school classes with a teacher, children up to 16 years, and members of VMS/AMS, ICOM and the Friends of the Museum.

Accessibility

• Partially 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

A large part of the rooms is wheelchair accessible; for the ground floor of the Hôtel Ratzé a ramp can be set up on request. Wheelchair users are advised to contact the secretariat (+41 26 305 51 40, mahf@fr.ch) in advance to arrange a direct step-free entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Playground / play area

The children's corner in the café invites creative activities, and a "Creative Box" is freely available. Schools and families will find workshops and activities in the education programme; children up to 16 years have free admission.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A12, exit Fribourg Nord.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café "MAHF CAF" in a bright room with a children's corner; museum shop with publications, T-shirts and other items.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit