Vitromusée Romont
Swiss museum of stained glass and glass art in Romont Castle with stained glass, reverse glass painting and hollow glass.
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About the museum
The idea for the museum came from the surgeon and art lover Pierre Fasel together with the stained-glass artist Yoki: they wanted to create a house devoted to stained glass, which they saw as a world first. The Fondation du Musée de Romont was founded for this purpose in 1972; in 1979 the canton of Fribourg made part of the Savoyard castle wing available. On 20 January 1981 the Musée du Vitrail opened as part of the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of Fribourg joining the Swiss Confederation. In 1988 it became the Musée suisse du Vitrail, and since 2006 it has been called Vitromusée Romont.
The museum is located in Romont Castle on a hill above the old town. The Savoyard part with the 38-metre-high tower dates from the 13th century and today shows the stained glass collection; the 16th-century Fribourg bailiff's building has housed the reverse glass painting since the 2006 extension. The orangery, connecting passage and staircase from the 2006 conversion link medieval walls with light metal structures.
The collections comprise stained glass, reverse glass painting, glass objects, graphic works as well as tools and materials of glass processing, plus several thousand fragments of old stained glass. In 2020 a third section with hollow glass was added. The main lender is the scientific partner institution Vitrocentre Romont. The museum also promotes contemporary glass art in Switzerland.
Highlights
- Stained glass in the Savoyard castle from the 13th century
- Reverse glass painting in the Fribourg bailiff's building
- Hollow glass department since 2020
- Vitrocafé in the orangery with a terrace in the castle courtyard
- Children's studio and workshops around the material glass
Permanent exhibitions
- Glasmalerei im Château savoyard – The stained glass collection is displayed in the medieval castle wing, complemented by a workshop, tools and fragments of old windows.
- Hinterglasmalerei im Château fribourgeois – The 16th-century bailiff's building has housed an extensive collection of reverse glass painting since 2006.
- Hohlglas – Since 2020 a third section has presented glass objects and hollow glass as a complement to the stained glass.
- Founded
- 1981
- Operated by
- Stiftung Fondation du Musée de Romont
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 12Students, military and civilian service personnel, recipients of AHV (old-age) and IV (disability) benefits |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 16 · Children up to the age of 16 accompanied by an adult have free admission. |
| Seniors | CHF 12AHV |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 12IV recipients |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 12 |
| Groups (10+ people) | CHF 12 per personGroups of 10 or more CHF 12 per person; school classes and children's groups CHF 3 per person. |
Free admission with Raiffeisen (membership); with the KulturLegi 40 percent discount on the adult price (CHF 9). A surcharge may be applied for special exhibitions and events.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is wheelchair accessible; the entrance is in the castle courtyard. For visually impaired people there is the 60-minute "Expérience tactile" offer with a tactile model. Dogs are not allowed in the museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 16 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
In the children's studio, children aged 5 or 6 and over, accompanied by adults, make suncatchers, candle holders or a glass-pane picture (kit CHF 10, approx. 30 to 60 minutes). There are also games, a puzzle trail, workshops for children, holiday pass offers and children's birthday parties with up to 12 children (price on request, tel. +41 26 652 18 34).
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Ecole primaire · 3-min walk
By train 30 minutes from Lausanne or Bern to "Romont FR, gare" (15-minute walk to the museum), or from there by bus to the "Ecole primaire" stop (3-minute walk).
By car
Parking available
Parking near the museum; two spaces are reserved for buses.
The museum entrance is in the castle courtyard.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Vitrocafé in the orangery with a terrace in the castle courtyard (in the 2026 season from 14 March to 4 October, Tuesday to Sunday 1 to 5 p.m., free entry). Vitroboutique with glass objects, glass jewellery, books and postcards, accessible free of charge during opening hours.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Weddings / ceremonies
The historic halls (Salle St-Luc, orangery) are rented out for events, concerts and aperitifs; the castle courtyard also requires a reservation. The Salle St-Luc is the official wedding hall of the Glâne district and holds 40 guests.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography without flash and filming for private purposes are generally allowed, except for marked objects; tripods, selfie sticks and telephoto lenses are not allowed. |
| Good to know | Public guided tour (60 minutes, in French) every first Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. without registration, free with museum admission. Private tours for a maximum of 20 people in French, German or English: "Clin d'œil" 1 hour CHF 160, panorama tour 1.5 hours CHF 200, "Détails" 2 hours CHF 250, each plus admission; CHF 50 surcharge outside opening hours. In addition there are demonstrations, Vitro workshops for adults and school programmes. |
