Bernisches Historisches Museum (Bern History Museum)

Bernisches Historisches Museum (Bern History Museum) Review

Indonesian shadow puppets, Japanese swords, Polynesian masks, Indian figurines, and Celtic jewelry fill the ground floor, and the Islamic collection is exquisite, but head to the basement for the real focus: Bern and its place in Swiss history. Armor and arms, lavish church treasure (including sculptures from the Münster), magnificent silver, tapestries "acquired" in 1476-77 when the Bernese pushed Charles the Bold back into France, and several of Hans Gieng's original fountain statues lead the charge. The top floor is devoted to Einstein; major signage is in English.