Exhibition | accessibility.time_to
Warfare, past and present, has been a defining element of Switzerland’s history. The exhibition brings together a variety of perspectives, showing how ‒ from the late Middle Ages to the present day ‒ wars have influenced the nation’s political structures, economic interests and social order.
From the identity-building myths surrounding the Battle of Murten, to internal conflicts like the Peasant War of 1653 and the Sonderbund War of 1847, right through to the latent threat posed by the Second World War: warfare in all its forms has shaped the way Switzerland sees itself. Whether fought on the territory of modern-day Switzerland or elsewhere, wars can be seen to have given rise to new power relationships and social tensions – leading, for example, to the accumulation of capital through the trade in arms and mercenaries, heightened class conflict and changing gender roles.
Switzerland’s image of itself as a neutral state that promotes peace continues to play a key role to this day, especially in the foreign policy arena. In the dynamic space between threat and diplomacy, Switzerland has been able to carve out a certain amount of leeway, using its neutrality to safeguard security and foster peace. The objects and stories presented in the exhibition encourage visitors to question popular views of Switzerland’s relationship with war and to engage with a topic that often seems distant, but which is etched deeply in the collective memory.
13:30 – 14:30 Uhr
Guided tour
11:30 – 12:30 Uhr
Guided tour
13:30 – 14:30 Uhr
Guided tour
18:00 – 19:00 Uhr
Guided tour
13:30 – 14:30 Uhr
Guided tour
Wars have acted on Switzerland for centuries. In what way did they have impact on the creation of the modern federal state? How does Switzerland benefit economically from wars? The guided tour shows how the Swiss and their army responded to wars over time, and what options Switzerland has with regard international peace policy.
Tour: 1 hour
Guided tours can be arranged outside opening hours: Mon between 9.30 am and 6 pm, Tue to Fri between 9.30 am and 7.45 pm. Sat and Sun between 10 am and 5 pm
| Registration: |
2 weeks in advance |
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Duration: |
60 minutes; special packages can be offered on request |
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Group size: |
max. 25 participants per tour |
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Languages: |
English, German, Italian, French. Other offers upon request. |
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Cost: |
CHF 180 for the guided tour + CHF 10 admission per person Children up to 16 years free. For groups of persons with permit N, S, F, the guided tour and admission are free of charge. |
Monday till Friday 09:00 - 12:30
Wars have acted on Switzerland for centuries. In what way did they have impact on the creation of the modern federal state? How does Switzerland benefit economically from wars? The guided tour shows how the Swiss and their army responded to wars over time, and what options Switzerland has with regard international peace policy.
Guided tour: 1 hour
Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.
Please be aware that some of the content in this exhibition may be disturbing to pupils.
Guided tours in English can be arranged, even outside opening hours. Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.
| Booking: |
at least 2 weeks in advance |
|
|
Duration: |
1 hour guided tours, other services by prior arrangement |
|
|
Group size: |
max. 25 people |
|
|
Cost: |
Guided tours for school classes from Switzerland are free of charge. |
Monday till Friday 09:00 - 12:30
Children and teenagers encounter war in the media, some even in their personal lives. What impact do war reports have, and what options do we have for dealing with them? What does Switzerland do to promote international peace? On the tour, students explore the process of peace building and, by doing so, discover how this is linked to conflict resolution strategies in everyday life.
Guided tour: 1 hour
Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.
Please be aware that some of the content in this exhibition may be disturbing to pupils.
Guided tours in English can be arranged, even outside opening hours. Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.
| Booking: |
at least 2 weeks in advance |
|
|
Duration: |
1 hour guided tours, other services by prior arrangement |
|
|
Group size: |
max. 25 people |
|
|
Cost: |
Guided tours for school classes from Switzerland are free of charge. |
Monday till Friday 09:00 - 12:30
Wars often seem like distant events, but they also shape Switzerland’s past and present. Through impressive objects and stories, the exhibition “Wars and us” at the National Museum Zurich shows how conflicts have influenced Switzerland’s self-image, politics and daily life for centuries.
Wars shape the present. Every day, the news and social media confront us with pictures from Ukraine, the Middle East and other parts of the world. They clearly show that armed conflicts are not merely distant events, but that they influence political debates, social values and personal perceptions across the globe. Even in neutral Switzerland, wars are part of both history and the current reality.
In five sections, the exhibition sheds light on the way in which wars have shaped politics, the economy and society in Switzerland since the late Middle Ages. It shows how conflicts spark identity-building processes, shift economic dependencies and exacerbate social tensions. Beyond their military aspect, it is their far-reaching impact on everyday life, culture and political decisions that is highlighted.
The exhibition focuses on the question of how war has shaped Switzerland’s self-image. Over the centuries, myths around the Rütli oath, William Tell and Arnold von Winkelried have become symbolic narratives about freedom and unity. At the same time, economic entanglements emerged through mercenary services and later the arms industry. Conflicts have also led to social change: they have sparked economic crises and protest movements, influenced migration and shifted gender roles. Meanwhile, Switzerland has developed political scope for action, for example through neutrality, humanitarian activities and peace policy.
Many historical objects highlight these connections. A tapestry depicting the Battle of Pavia (1525) – an extremely valuable loan from Naples, which is being exhibited for the first time in Switzerland – depicts the rout of Swiss troops and challenges the myth of their military invincibility. Three different representations of the Battle of Murten (1476) – a historical painting, a school poster and a contemporary photograph – show how memory and a nation’s self-image can change over time.
Exhibits also highlight economic and social aspects: troop registers, coins and discharge certificates evoke the business of mercenary service, while photographs and manuals from the Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon and the Waffenfabrik Solothurn document the role of the Swiss arms industry in the 20th century. Other objects – such as a machine gun and a trade union flag dating from the national strike of 1918, uniforms from active duty and the Women’s Auxiliary Service, and maps and photographs of military facilities in the Alps – illustrate how closely war, society and politics are interlinked.
The exhibition closes with a contemporary perspective: in a video installation entitled “Repeat after Me”, Ukrainian refugees emulate the sounds of gunshots, artillery and sirens. Visitors are invited to repeat these sounds – a haunting reminder that war is not only history, but continues to shape experiences and touch people.
The interactive “Neutrality Compass” accompanies the exhibition and invites visitors to reflect on their own views about the significance of neutrality. In each section, they answer questions and at the end they receive an analysis of their answers and further information on Swiss neutrality.
The supporting programme will add additional perspectives to the exhibition. An event is being organized in partnership with the Kunsthaus Zürich shedding light on the shift in Switzerland’s remembrance culture. And the topic of violence will be examined in detail in collaboration with the research project on the aestheticization of war violence at Bern University of the Arts. Contemporary witnesses also share their experiences of forced migration, peacekeeping and war photography.
