Skip to main content.
Bern Welcome Logo
The picture shows the interior of the permanent exhibition of the Swiss Museum for the Blind. Various exhibits and information panels can be seen on the walls and on tables. The room has an open, bright atmosphere with a ceiling made of exposed wood, which makes for a modern and accessible environment.
The picture shows a guided tour of the Swiss Museum for the Blind, during which a guide explains something about Louis Braille and the braille system he developed. Exhibits and information boards on the subject are on display. The group listens attentively and the atmosphere appears to be informative and engaging.

Swiss Blindenmuseum (Museum of Blindness)

The Swiss Museum of Blindness in Zollikofen takes visitors on a journey through 200 years of blindness education using exhibits, a dark room and a workshop.

Useful information

  • Canton of Bern
  • Museums & galleries

Visitors are immediately immersed in a unique visual experience. The foyer is kept completely grey, which is in contrast to the colourful world outside. The tour of the museum begins with six video portraits of people who are blind and visually impaired – all in grey as well, of course. The change in your perception becomes even more noticeable in the dark room. With your sight taken away, the focus immediately shifts to other senses: hearing in the audio experience with sound installations, and touch in the hands-on tactile activity.

The picture shows an exhibition room of the Swiss Museum for the Blind with large-format portrait photographs. People are looking at the works, which are presented illuminated on individual steles. The atmosphere is calm and reflective as the visitors engage with the expressive images.
© Schweizerisches Blindenmuseum

Your sense of sight can be used again as you enter the main exhibition – in another room – but it’s not necessary because the 120 objects on display are designed to be handled, making them accessible to people who are blind and visually impaired as well. With the help of their sense of touch, visitors can discover Braille and other technical developments, for example.

The picture shows a bright, modern exhibition room at the Swiss Museum for the Blind with a wooden ceiling and numerous exhibits on tables and walls. Graphics or photos are presented on one wall, while various models and interactive stations can be seen in the room. The atmosphere is calm and informative, with a focus on education and discovery.
© Schweizerisches Blindenmuseum

Do you want to learn Braille or try to write with a Braille typewriter? The final part of the exhibition is a workshop where you can really satisfy your curiosity. The diverse materials and information enable visitors to have first-hand experiences and learn more about the world of blindness. Your sense of smell will also be challenged when trying to identify and categorise different scents. Definitely an all-encompassing sensory experience!

The standard tour is offered in German, French, English and Italian.

Location

Swiss Blindenmuseum (Museum of Blindness)
Höheweg 10
3052 Zollikofen

Open Google Maps