Discover Germany | Special Theme | Culture Highlights Switzerland - The Best Cultural Offerings 2018
TEXT: SONJA IRANI I PHOTOS: BERNISCHES HISTORISCHES MUSEUM
Discover the man behind the genius When Albert Einstein (1879–1955) lived in the Swiss city of Bern, he came up with a revolutionary theory that changed our perception of time and space forever. A good hundred years later, the Einstein Museum in Bern offers a unique insight into the life and work of the famous scientist. Located within the museum complex Bernisches Historisches Museum, the Einstein exhibition space was originally set up in 2005 for the 100-yearanniversary of Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity. Due to its phenomenal success, the temporary exhibition was then converted into a permanent one now known as the Einstein Museum. “The visitors start their tour at the staggering mirror staircase,” explains Merja Rinderli, head of marketing and communication.“This gives a first hint on how much Albert Einstein’s theories have changed our perception of time and space. Inside the exhibition, you can expect an exciting mix of original objects and written documents, historical audio and film material as well as easy-to-understand animations explaining the genius’ discoveries.” The Einstein Museum’s great selling point is that it not only informs the visitor about 52 | Issue 61 | April 2018
Einstein’s scientific achievements, but also about his private life and the time period he lived in. Here, you can listen to the dramatic stories surrounding the physicist’s romantic relationships or travel back in time to the fascinating world of the Roaring Twenties. Other key themes of the exhibition include the horrors of the Holocaust, and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. “For our foreign visitors, we provide an audio guide in nine languages,” says Rinderli. “Via the app izi.Travel, the guide can even be downloaded prior to your visit.” New in 2018 is an Einstein statue and bench in the museum’s park. Visitors of the exhibition can pause here for a break, or for a ‘celebrity selfie’ with the man himself. Those who would like to know more will be pleased to hear that a ticket to the Einstein Museum also includes ten other
permanent exhibitions at the Bernisches Historisches Museum. Plus, the Museum of Communication, the Natural History Museum, the Swiss Alpine Museum, and the Kunsthalle Bern are all situated in immediate proximity. And if you would like to combine an educational museum visit with a fun day out, you should head to Bern on 15 June 2018. On the ‘Rendezvous with Einstein day’, you can get closer to the man behind the genius with special themed tours, presentations, competitions, join-in activities, concerts and much more. www.einsteinmuseum.ch