Musée d'histoire des sciences de la Ville de Genève

The Musée d'histoire des sciences de la Ville de Genève is a science museum in Villa Bartholoni displaying historical scientific instruments across multiple exhibition rooms. The galleries present measurement devices, optical instruments, and mechanical apparatus from centuries of scientific work.

The museum was founded in 1964 when the Swiss Institute of Physics and the Observatory combined their historical collections. These institutions merged their scientific holdings to create the foundation of today's exhibition.

The museum holds instruments used by Geneva researchers who worked in the city and shaped its scientific tradition. Visitors encounter the actual tools these local scientists used to make their discoveries.

The museum is located in the Petit-Saconnex neighborhood near Lake Geneva and is easily accessible to visitors. Admission is free, and the rooms are laid out clearly so you can explore the exhibition in one or two hours.

The museum holds a 19th-century microscope with an integrated camera lucida, an optical device for drawing made by Constant Verick. There is also a rare electromagnetic generator from the 1920s that shows how early power machines were built.

Location: Petit-Saconnex

Location: Geneva

Inception: 1964

Official opening: 1964

Part of: list of cultural properties in Geneva / Petit-Saconnex

Address: Rue de Lausanne 128, 1202 Genève

Website: http://ville-ge.ch/mhs

GPS coordinates: 46.22083,6.15213

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:01