Museum of Art and History, Art and history museum in Fribourg, Switzerland.
The Museum of Art and History occupies two main buildings connected by an underground passageway in the city. Its collections comprise around 50,000 objects ranging from sculptures and paintings to historical artifacts spanning multiple periods.
The institution was founded in 1774 by Tobie Gerfer and achieved official museum status in 1823. It is housed in a 16th-century Renaissance palazzo that has sheltered its collections for generations.
The collection features regional artworks spanning from medieval times to today, with sections dedicated to glasswork traditions and the sculptures of artist Adele d'Affry. Visitors can spend time exploring how these locally rooted artists shaped the cultural identity of the region.
The museum is split between the 16th-century hôtel Ratzé and a former abattoir facing each other across rue de Morat; an underground passage links the two wings, so you can cross without going outside. The room layout dates from the 1981 renovation. Both buildings are listed as cultural property of national significance.
The museum manages the Espace Jean-Tinguely–Niki-de-Saint-Phalle, housed in the former tram depot; the monumental sculptures are there, not in a museum garden. The museum itself also holds a gallery of stained glass and one devoted to sculptor Adèle d'Affry, known as Marcello (1836–1879).
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