Museum Walserhaus
The Walserhaus in Bosco Gurin, one of the oldest houses in the Alps, shows the living, language, customs and art of the Walser in Ticino.
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About the museum
The museum was opened in 1938 by the founders of the Walserhaus association as the first ethnographic museum in the Canton of Ticino. For this purpose one of the oldest houses in the Alpine region was made available, dated to 1386 and thus preserved in its original structure. Bosco Gurin is the highest year-round inhabited village in Ticino (1,506 m); the settlers came in the early 13th century from the neighbouring Val Formazza and remained isolated for a long time.
Since its opening the exhibition has grown steadily and been renewed several times. Later additions were a garden with old vegetable and herb varieties from ProSpecieRara and two torbe (storehouses), which provide space for an exhibition on mountain farming, for special exhibitions and for craft activities. The association that runs the house also organises an annual programme with guided tours, themed hikes, films, storytelling evenings and the Måtzufåmm festival in September.
The house sees itself at once as a museum of language, architecture, living, history and art; there are also sections on customs and religion. In 2021 it received the Meyvaert Museum Prize for Sustainability of the European Museum Academy.
Highlights
- House from 1386, one of the oldest in the Alps
- Living museum with kitchen, parlour and storehouse
- Ggurijnartitsch dialect with online vocabulary
- Room on the artist and graphic designer Hans Tomamichel
- ProSpecieRara garden and museum of mountain farming
Permanent exhibitions
- Wohnmuseum – Kitchen, parlour and storehouse show the old ways of living and working of the Walser, with household utensils made of wood, soapstone and cast iron.
- Kunstmuseum und Handwerk – This section is devoted to the woodworking and decoration techniques of the Gurin people as well as the graphic designer and artist Hans Tomamichel (1899–1984).
- Founded
- 1938
- Operated by
- Associazione Walserhaus Gurin
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 4Students and AHV/AVS pensioners |
| Children & teens | CHF 1.50Children and young people aged 6 to 16 |
| Seniors | CHF 4AHV/AVS recipients |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 4 |
| Groups (10+ people) | CHF 4 per personGroups of 10 or more people, price per person |
| Families | CHF 12Family ticket |
| Guided museum tour for groups (10 or more people), on request | CHF 60 |
| Village tour on request, 1–9 people | CHF 60Plus museum admission |
| Village tour on request, 10–25 people | CHF 80Plus museum admission |
| School classes, flat rate | CHF 80Guided tour on request |
Admission is free with the Swiss Museum Pass or the Raiffeisen membership card.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | CHF 12 · Family ticket |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
A family ticket is available (CHF 12); the programme includes educational trails and craft afternoons as well as TaM Tandem activities in the museum.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From Locarno station: FART bus 315 to Cevio Centro, then PostBus 331 to Bosco Gurin.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Sales corner and online shop with publications on Bosco Gurin, the Walser and the dialect.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours of the museum and the village are possible on request. The annual programme includes themed hikes, film screenings, craft afternoons, educational trails and a storytelling evening. |
