Zentrum Paul Klee

About the museum

The impetus came in 1990 from Alexander Klee, the artist's grandson: the heirs were willing to give large parts of the estate to Bern if a museum dedicated to Paul Klee were established there. In 1997 Livia Klee-Meyer donated her share of the collection, later followed by a large loan from Alexander Klee. Together with holdings of the Paul Klee Foundation, which had previously been in Bern Art Museum, the collection included approximately 40 percent of the entire oeuvre.

In 1998 surgeon Maurice E. Müller and his wife Martha Müller-Lüthi offered building land in Bern's Schöngrün neighborhood and substantial funds for construction. A competition was waived; Renzo Piano received the direct commission. Construction began in October 2001, the house opened on 20 June 2005. Piano designed a landscape sculpture of glass and steel with three hills, each addressing a focal point of Klee's work: exhibitions, music and mediation, research.

According to the founders' wishes, the house should be more than a monographic museum. Alongside the Klee collection are therefore temporary exhibitions on modern and contemporary art, master concerts, readings and the Creaviva children's museum. Since 2015 the center has been jointly directed with Bern Art Museum under a joint foundation.

Highlights

• World's most comprehensive collection of Paul Klee works, shown in permanent exhibition 'Cosmos Klee'
• Architecture by Renzo Piano: three undulating hills in the landscape
• Creaviva children's museum with studios and free accessible interactive exhibition
• Master concerts and readings in auditorium
• Restaurant Schöngrün directly next to museum

Permanent exhibition

• Kosmos Klee. Die Sammlung – Permanent exhibition shows a selection from the house's Klee holdings; due to scope and fragility of paper works, never everything can be seen simultaneously.

Founded

2005

Operated by

Stiftung Zentrum Paul Klee (Dachstiftung Kunstmuseum Bern – Zentrum Paul Klee)

Director

Nina Zimmer

Visitors per year

approx. 148,610

Admission & discounts

Due to preparation of next exhibition (opening 17 October 2026) currently reduced rate applies, as not all rooms accessible; thereafter prices may differ. Accepted are Swiss Museums Pass, Museums-PASS-Musées, ICOM, Visarte, SGBK, Raiffeisen and culture GA; with KulturLegi 50 percent discount. Free admission for Friends Circle members. Interactive Creaviva exhibition and museum street free accessible.

Accessibility

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

All exhibition rooms and museum street have wooden floors and good accessibility; rental wheelchairs available. Auditorium accessible by lift. Induction loops for audioguides, large print texts at cashier, several times yearly inclusive 'Sense-Rich' tours with touch reliefs. Three disabled parking spaces, access to main entrance on request.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Creaviva is a separate children's museum with free accessible experience stations, open studio for children from 4, family mornings on Sunday and holiday courses. Birthdays can be celebrated in studio ('Art & Cake'). Change tables in cloakroom area; strollers permitted in exhibitions.

Getting there & parking

Highway A6, exit Bern-Ostring; navigation address Schosshaldenstrasse 92c. With SBB RailAway offer reduced travel with public transport.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Café in museum (Tue–Sun 10–17) and Restaurant Schöngrün directly next door. Museum shop that is also bookshop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 300 guests.

Auditorium with 300 seats, forum for up to 240 people and four seminar rooms; contact events@zpk.org. Additionally studios in Creaviva and spaces in Restaurant Schöngrün.

Plan your visit