Rath Museum (Musée Rath)

The basics

Dating back to 1826, the Rath Museum is believed to be Switzerland’s oldest purpose-built museum. Established by art-loving Rath family and the Geneva state, the site was created to host art exhibitions, although by the late 19th century it was deemed too small for its rich collections.

Today, this one-of-a-kind museum forms part of Geneva’s MAH, hosting its important temporary art exhibitions. Art and archaeology aficionados who particularly want to visit the Rath building should contact the MAH directly before they visit, as the site is only open when it’s hosting an exhibition.

Things to know before you go

• The Rath Museum is small, so plan no more than an hour for a visit.

• As part of the MAH collective, admission is officially free although you can make a voluntary donation.

• The museum is considered accessible for people with reduced mobility, via a level entranceway at the back of the building.

• Lockers are available onsite for a small refundable fee.

• Strollers can enter the museum via an elevator, and can be left unsupervised by the entrance.

How to get there

The Rath Museum is located on the Place Neuve in front of the old city walls in Geneva and next to the Grand Theater. It’s a short stroll from the pedestrianized streets of Vieille Ville or the Parc des Bastions, or you can get there by many public buses or trams to the Place Neuve or Bel Air stops. If you come by car, the nearest parking lot is Plainpalais.

When to get there

The site is open Tuesday to Sunday, but only when temporary exhibitions are on. On these days, the doors are open to the public from mid-morning until early evening. It’s a niche museum, so it’s unlikely to feel as busy as Geneva’s better-known art galleries.

Past temporary exhibitions at the Rath Museum

Exhibitions at the Rath Museum cover a mind-bending variety of artistic themes that are always thought-provoking. Examples of past collections include the early 2023 exhibition “From Dusk to Dawn,” an assortment of works from the Kyiv National Art Gallery, and the 2021 “Photographic Odyssey” that showcased Fred Boissonnas’ interpretation of Mediterranean landscapes through his camera lens.