Museum Rietberg
Zurich city museum for art from Africa, Asia, America and Oceania in villas and new 'Emerald' building in Rieterpark.
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About the museum
The foundation was laid in 1857 by silk merchant couple Otto and Mathilde Wesendonck, who built a villa in today's Rieterpark. Composer Richard Wagner lived in the neighboring house, today's Villa Schönberg, and was inspired by Mathilde Wesendonck to 'Tristan and Isolde'; she wrote poems which he set as Wesendonck Songs. After 1871 the villas belonged to the Rieter family, in 1945 the City of Zurich purchased the park including Villa Wesendonck.
In 1949 Zurich's population voted for conversion of the villa to a museum. It was to house the collection of banker Eduard von der Heydt, who had assembled non-European art under the guiding principle 'ars una' – there is only one art. In 1952 the museum opened under director Johannes Itten. Since 1978 Villa Schönberg also belongs to the ensemble, and 2007 saw the largely underground extension building with the glass entrance pavilion 'Emerald' by Alfred Grazioli and Adolf Krischanitz added.
Today the museum owns approximately 32,600 objects and 49,000 photographs from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania, largely visible in the rooms and in the storage gallery. Highlights include Chinese ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, Indian miniature painting from the Alice Boner Collection and Buddhist art from the Himalayas. As Switzerland's first museum, it established a position for provenance research.
Highlights
- The only museum for world art in Switzerland
- Eduard von der Heydt Collection as core
- Chinese ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection
- Indian miniature painting from the Alice Boner Collection
- Buddhist art from the Himalayas
- Villa Wesendonck, Villa Schönberg and new 'Emerald' building in Rieterpark
Permanent exhibition
- Sammlungen des Museum Rietberg – Art from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania, including China, Himalayas, India, Japan, Southeast Asia and the Near East, in the villas, in the Emerald and in the storage gallery.
- Founded
- 1952
- Operated by
- Stadt Zürich
- Director
- Annette Bhagwati
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 14 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 12AHV/IV, students at universities and colleges (without age limit), trainees; rate for collections including Park Villa Rieter |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Children and youth up to and including 15 years free admission. |
| Seniors | CHF 12AHV |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 12companion free · People with disabilities pay reduced, companion free; IV reduced. |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 12Students at universities and colleges from within and outside Switzerland as well as trainees without age limit; study groups free with registration. |
| Groups | –Groups with externally hired tour guides pay additional fee of CHF 80 (arrange date via events.rietberg@zuerich.ch). Study groups from within and outside Switzerland (including teacher and two companions) free with registration. |
| Admission with special exhibition | CHF 18Reduced CHF 14 |
Free admission including Zurich Card, Swiss Museums Pass or partner card (Raiffeisen membership card, Swiss Travel System), KulturLegi, ICOM, ICOMOS, VMS, German Museums Association, members of Rietberg Society, refugees with status S, N or F and teachers with culture pass. Maximum three companions of Rietberg Society members pay reduced.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- 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
All buildings barrier-free and wheelchair-accessible, except remise (studio, tea ceremony). Elevators in Emerald, Villa Wesendonck and Park Villa Rieter (lift 65 cm wide, 128 cm deep). Wheelchairs at main building (Emerald), free seating, accessible toilets in all buildings. Disabled parking next to remise or Villa Wesendonck, access via Gablerstrasse corner. Details on Ginto.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Family tours to special exhibitions for all age groups plus children's and family workshops with studio (for children from 5 years with companion). Children and youth up to 15 years free admission; Rieterpark invites picnicking.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Museum Rietberg · 5-min walk
Tram 7 toward Wollishofen to 'Museum Rietberg'; S-Bahn to Enge Station; bus 72 toward Morgental to 'Hügelstrasse'.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No public parking at museum; one parking space for people with disabilities next to remise.
- Accessible parking
Museum requests arrival by public transport. From Enge Station 10 minutes, from 'Hügelstrasse' stop 6 minutes walk. Coach entry and exit at corner Grütlistrasse/Gablerstrasse.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Café in former greenhouse of Villa Wesendonck with daily changing dishes (self-service, no reservation), in summer with courtyard; picnic baskets on order for Rieterpark (CHF 85 per basket, three days notice). Museum shop (also online).
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 without online registration (tickets on event day at box office, limited participants), private tours and 'Art of Choice' collection tours; tours for school classes and teachers. Tour inquiries at events.rietberg@zuerich.ch. |
