Maison Tavel, Urban history museum in Old Town, Geneva, Switzerland
Maison Tavel is a museum housed in a medieval building in the Old Town that spans five floors with furniture, maps, models, and objects from Geneva's daily life. The collections show how residents lived and what items they used in their homes and streets.
The building was originally constructed in the 12th century but was rebuilt as an urban palace after a fire in 1334 and remains the oldest private house in Geneva. It went through renovations over time while remaining connected to the city's development.
The building displays household items, metalwork, and personal objects that show how people lived in Geneva across different periods. You can see tools, furnishings, and everyday things that reveal the rhythms of daily life in this city over centuries.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday with free entry to the permanent exhibitions, making it easy to visit at your own pace. The five floors are connected by stairs, so be prepared to climb if you want to see everything.
The attic houses a detailed architectural model created by Auguste Magnin in 1850 that shows Geneva's landscape at a 1:250 scale with striking precision. This handcrafted model offers a fascinating window into how the city looked in that era.
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