Rathaus Sempach – Museum und Menschen

About the museum

Sempach's town hall is a timber-framed building from 1475 and the most striking building in the townscape; it is regarded as a cultural property of national significance. For a long time it was primarily a market and trade building: until the 1830s animals were slaughtered on the ground floor and cloth was traded in the Tuchlaube on the first floor. At the same time the council met here, court was held and plays were performed, a first museum was set up, and even the bird observatory moved in for a time.

The last comprehensive renovation before the present one took place from 1887 to 1891. Between 2012 and 2014 the building was elaborately restored under the supervision of the cantonal monument preservation and archaeology services, and it reopened with a celebration on 19 June 2014. This was preceded in 2011 by the founding of the Stiftung Rathaus; until then the building had belonged to the Korporation Sempach, and now the town, the Korporation and the museum association are the founders. The Museumsverein zum Rathaus, founded in 1996, played a driving role in the conversion and new concept.

The redesigned museum presents on four floors themes such as religious life, urban economy and rule, Lake Sempach, and, in the attic, the Battle of Sempach in 1386 and the culture of remembrance around Winkelried. In 2017 the building was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA).

Highlights

• Restored town hall of 1475 as the most important exhibit
• Attic on the Battle of Sempach in 1386 and the culture of remembrance around Winkelried
• Bürgersaal with cabinet glass panes
• Tablet guide "iGuide" with in-depth information
• Tours of the town hall, the Städtli and the battlefield

Permanent exhibition

• Museum im Rathaus Sempach – Four floors cover religious life in the archive vault, city history in the Tuchlaube and Bürgersaal, Lake Sempach in the foyer, and, in the attic, the Battle of Sempach in 1386 along with its culture of remembrance.

Operated by

Stiftung Rathaus Sempach

Admission & discounts

Free admission for members of the Museumsverein zum Rathaus and for holders of a Raiffeisen card or a Museum Pass.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

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

With the iGuide, interactive learning is possible for families and children from third grade; otherwise the museum is aimed mainly at adults. A mobile phone rally also leads families through the Städtli.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

According to the website, souvenirs are available such as a town hall memory game, jigsaw puzzle, honey, Jass cards and postcards; the Sempach tourist information office is also located in the town hall.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 100 guests.

Available for hire are the Tuchlaube (1st floor, up to 100 people standing, 80 people banquet), the Bürgersaal (2nd floor, up to 60 or 40 people, also for civil weddings) and the foyer with lake view (2nd floor, up to 50 people, standing aperitifs). Kitchen for warming and cooling, tableware for 80 people.

Plan your visit