Tibet Museum – Fondation Alain Bordier
Museum in the former chapel of Gruyères with almost 400 works of Buddhist art from Tibet and the Himalayas dating from the 3rd to the 18th century.
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About the museum
The Tibet Museum opened in Gruyères in 2009 and is based on the collection of Alain Bordier, who over four decades has gathered more than 500 objects from Tibet and the Himalayas. The Fondation Alain Bordier runs the museum and continually expands the holdings with new pieces.
The museum is housed in the former pastoral building and in the chapel of St. Joseph of the former Saint-Germain castle. From the late 19th century the building served as an institute for deaf children run by Catholic sisters. After they left in 1920, a private family bought the house; the chapel was subsequently used as a storeroom. The foundation sees the museum's installation as a continuation of the place's vocation: it makes the chapel publicly accessible again and shows Buddhist art and philosophy there.
On display are almost 400 sculptures, paintings, manuscripts and ritual objects from Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, northern India, China, Mongolia and Burma. They depict Buddhas, deities and masters and serve as aids to meditation. The entire collection can also be explored via a digital museum guide on a smartphone or tablet.
Highlights
- Almost 400 works of Buddhist art from the 3rd to the 18th century
- Sculptures, paintings, manuscripts and ritual objects from across the Himalayan region
- Former St. Joseph's Chapel with stained-glass window and wall paintings
- Digital museum guide as an app with the entire collection
- Combined ticket with Gruyères Castle
Permanent exhibition
- Sammlung buddhistischer Kunst aus Tibet und dem Himalaya – Almost 400 sculptures, paintings, manuscripts and ritual objects from the 3rd to the 18th century from Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir, northern India, China, Mongolia and other regions.
- Founded
- 2009
- Operated by
- Fondation Alain Bordier
- Visitors per year
- approx. 6,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 8Seniors, students (with ID) |
| Children & teens | CHF 5Children aged 6 to 16 pay CHF 5. |
| Seniors | CHF 8 |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 8With ID |
| Groups (12+ people) | –Discounts for groups of 12 or more. |
| Combined ticket Gruyères Castle + Tibet Museum | CHF 17 |
Free admission with the Swiss Museum Pass, with Raiffeisen Schweiz (membership) and with the Kultur-GA. Credit cards are accepted; payments in euros are given back as change in CHF.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the old town of Gruyères on the right-hand side, between the H.R. Giger Museum and the gate to the Château de Gruyères.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with books on Tibetan art, Buddhist philosophy and practice, as well as objects selected in Asia by the founding couple.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The digital museum guide (web app for smartphone or tablet) leads room by room through the entire collection and can also be used from home. On the website under "Before your visit", the expert Ulrich von Schroeder explains the styles and regions of origin of the works. |
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