Museum Luzern

About the museum

Museum Luzern was created in 2022, when the cantonal parliament decided to merge the Natur-Museum and the Historisches Museum Luzern. Both institutions look back on a long history of collecting: as early as the early 18th century, natural specimens and historical objects began to be gathered in Lucerne; in 1820 a cabinet of natural curiosities was set up, which in 1849 merged with the holdings of the Museum Lucernense Langianum. After many interim storage arrangements, the Natur-Museum was able to open in 1978 at its present location on Kasernenplatz on the Reuss.

The building of the former Historisches Museum on Pfistergasse was built between 1567 and 1569 as an arsenal, initially served for weapon storage and soon also displayed war trophies. After the arsenal was abolished in 1983, it presented itself from 1986 as the Historisches Museum Luzern. Today it houses the Schaudepot Geschichte.

Since 2022 the museum has seen itself as an interdisciplinary institution with historical and natural-science holdings and, since taking over the cantonal art collection in 2025, artistic ones as well. It also works with nine partner sites (Schauplätze) in the canton that make cultural and natural history tangible at original locations.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on earth history with minerals and fossils
• Living nature with animal specimens and a museum forest
• Wonder world of insects with butterflies and beetles
• Schaudepot Geschichte with around 5,000 objects on Pfistergasse
• Theatre tours with professional actors
• Museum Thursday open until 8 p.m.

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung Erdgeschichte – Shows how planet Earth and the landscape came into being and what minerals and fossils reveal about earth history.
• Dauerausstellung Lebendige Natur und Wunderwelt Insekten – Animal specimens, hands-on evolution and a museum forest, as well as butterflies, beetles and other insects.
• Schaudepot Geschichte – Around 5,000 objects from several millennia of cultural history, which visitors explore on their own with a tablet and compass.

Operated by

Kanton Luzern

Director

Tanja Warring

Admission & discounts

Tickets only on site at the ticket desk by the main entrance. Free: Friends of the Natur-Museum and Historisches Museum, Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss and Lucerne Museum Pass, Raiffeisen card (according to guidelines), ICOM, VMS, Caritas Luzern Kultur-Legi. School classes from the Canton of Lucerne free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

People with disabilities pay a reduced price, and assistants have free admission; trained assistance and guide dogs are welcome. On selected Thursdays there are public tours with interpretation into Swiss German Sign Language (6:30 p.m., free admission). Tours, workshops and theatre tours can be adapted to individual needs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Gwunderstunde (crafts and discovery for children aged 4 and over), family adventures with youth guides, children’s theatre tours, sticker hunts, tablet quizzes and explorer suitcases on the theme of nature.

Getting there & parking

By car, take the Luzern Zentrum motorway exit; the building is on the Reuss and is reached via the Spreuerbrücke.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Café-Bar LOKAL (bistro, bar and café with free Wi-Fi, open until 8 p.m. on Museum Thursday); museum shop at Pfistergasse 24, accessible even without museum admission.

Events & venue rental

• Private parties
• Corporate events

For companies and associations, private tours and theatre tours as well as events are offered.

Plan your visit