Rätisches Museum

About the museum

The Rätisches Museum arose from the wish to stop valuable cultural property from leaving Graubünden. The jurist, historian and politician Peter Conradin von Planta-Zuoz proposed in the late 19th century the “Bündnerische Stiftung für Wissenschaft und Kunst” (Graubünden Foundation for Science and Art), which was to found a museum. On 8 June 1872 the first exhibition opened on the ground floor of the Buol house; the collection still belongs to the Stiftung Rätisches Museum today, while the canton runs the building.

The building on Hofstrasse was erected in 1675 by Paul von Buol zu Strassberg and Rietberg as a private residence. The Baroque patrician building with cross gable, broad flights of stairs, vaulted cellars and carriage passage itself tells a piece of Graubünden history.

The permanent exhibition extends over four floors and shows archaeological, cultural-historical and ethnographic objects from the whole canton: in the basement finds and features from the oldest traces of settlement to the early Middle Ages, on the first floor power and politics, on the second floor work and bread with social and economic history, and above that the Wunderkammer (cabinet of curiosities) with 150 selected collection objects. The total holdings comprise around 100,000 objects.

Highlights

• Baroque patrician house of 1675 in Chur's old town
• Permanent exhibition over four floors from prehistory to the present
• Archaeology in the basement with finds from around 11,000 BC
• Wunderkammer with 150 objects from the collection
• Media guide for smartphones and programmes for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Funde und Befunde – Archaeology in the basement, from the oldest traces of settlement (around 11,000 to 9,500 BC) through the Bronze and Iron Ages and the Roman conquest to the early Middle Ages.
• Macht und Politik – The most lavish floor is devoted to rule, wars, castles, the Three Leagues and the justice system in Graubünden.
• Arbeit und Brot – Social and economic history from agriculture and Alpine transit to tourism and migration.

Founded

1872

Operated by

Kanton Graubünden (Sammlung: Stiftung Rätisches Museum)

Director

Guadench Dazzi

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 1 August, 24 December and 31 December

Guided tours for school classes are free of charge.

Accessibility

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

All floors and the sanitary facilities on the ground floor are reachable by lift or wheelchair lift; the natural stone floor in the basement is uneven. A disabled parking space is located directly at the museum, and guide dogs with harness are permitted. The permanent exhibition can be experienced via the audio-enabled media guide.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

For the permanent exhibition there is the Middle Ages game (“A Day in the Life of …”) and the museum keys for children; the free children's city map leads to the three major Graubünden museums in Chur. There are also programmes for kindergarten, primary and secondary level as well as the treasure hunt through Chur's old town.

Getting there & parking

A disabled parking space is located directly at the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Small museum shop with literature, gifts and souvenirs, Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit