Museum für Uhren und mechanische Musikinstrumente
Museum in the historic Wichterheer estate on Lake Thun with Bernese clocks and mechanical musical instruments such as barrel organs and an orchestrion.
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About the museum
The museum is housed in the Wichterheer estate in Oberhofen, a medieval winery where grapes from the right bank of Lake Thun were pressed for centuries. The historic rooms of the former wine estate provide the setting for a collection that opened to visitors in 1995. The supporting association MUMM has existed since 1987 and now has around 300 members; much of the work in the house is done by volunteers.
The clock section shows timepieces from almost six centuries, made mainly in Swiss workshops and factories. The focus is on the work of clockmakers from the city and canton of Bern.
The second focus is mechanical musical instruments: music boxes, musical clocks, mechanical pianos, barrel organs and an orchestrion. These exhibits come largely from the Kurt Matter Foundation collection. All visitors are guided through the exhibition by volunteers, who make the instruments play and explain how they work.
Highlights
- Clocks from almost six centuries, with a focus on Bernese clockmakers
- Playable barrel organs, mechanical pianos and music boxes
- Orchestrion from the Kurt Matter Foundation collection
- Historic Wichterheer estate, a medieval winery
- Guided tour led by volunteers
Permanent exhibitions
- Uhren und Zeitmesser – Timepieces from almost six centuries, mainly from Swiss workshops, with a focus on clockmakers from the city and canton of Bern.
- Mechanische Musikinstrumente – Musical clocks, music boxes, barrel organs, mechanical pianos and an orchestrion, largely from the Kurt Matter Foundation collection.
- Founded
- 1995
- Operated by
- Verein MUMM
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 10AHV/IV (with ID), guest card, Seepass |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 16 · Children up to 16 years free |
| Seniors | CHF 10AHV with ID |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 10IV with ID |
| Groups | –Groups are guided individually and looked after by appointment. |
| School class | CHF 50 |
| Apéro for groups, small (per person) | CHF 12after the tour, in the historic rooms or in the front garden |
| Apéro for groups, large (per person) | CHF 15after the tour, in the historic rooms or in the front garden |
With the guest card or the Seepass, the reduced price of CHF 10 applies.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 16 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
School classes receive age-appropriate tours on timekeeping and mechanical musical instruments; the museum describes itself as a place for young and old.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Wichterheer
From Thun, bus 21 every 15 minutes; from Interlaken, bus 21 every 30 minutes, in each case to the Wichterheer stop; by boat to Ländte Oberhofen, from there about a 10-minute walk, pleasantly through the castle park.
The museum is located in the Wichterheer estate on the Staatsstrasse.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | All visitors are guided through the museum by volunteers, who make the instruments play along the way. Groups and school classes (from 1st grade) book individual tours by prior appointment. |
