Immerse yourself in the new exhibition “Lakes, Mirrors of Switzerland,” explore the mystery of illegibility with us, discover the motif of the Tower of Babel and the theme of hubris in the work of Friedrich Dürrenmatt, and let yourself be enchanted by a rousing spoken word performance at lunchtime. A varied cultural program awaits you in 2026
Switzerland’s 1,500 or so lakes shape the country’s landscape and identity. The exhibition ‘Lakes, Mirrors of Switzerland’ takes you on a journey through history, from Switzerland’s founding myths and legends, to the tradition of ‘Badi’ (open-air swimming areas), dams and reservoirs. From March 12, 2026, to June 5, 2026
This is where culture, history, science, art and innovation meet to inspire visitors with a lively mix of impressions and emotions. The Swiss National Library is proud to be an active part of this vibrant network.
The collections of the Swiss National Library consist of books, newspapers and periodicals, websites, maps and atlases, university and corporate publications, official publications and printed music.
The collection of the Prints and Drawings Department includes prints from the 17th to 21st centuries, photographs, postcards, posters and artists’ books, as well as documents on historic monument preservation since the end of the 19th century.
The National Library’s Literary Archives are home to the leading
collection of literary estates, libraries and archives from authors of
the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Swiss National Sound Archives in Lugano collect sound recordings and preserve them for posterity. They have been archiving Switzerland’s audio heritage and making it available to anyone with an interest since 1987.
There was great disappointment when the scheduled cow fighting competitions had to be suspended indefinitely in August 2025 due to the threat of LSD cattle disease. This tradition stems from the combative nature of Hérens cows, who fight to determine the top cow within their herd.
Despite the name, the uniforms worn by Swiss soldiers were anything but. Adolf Pochon’s watercolours reveal this remarkable array of military dress across the centuries.
Figure du premier mouvement féministe en Suisse, Emma Pieczynska-Reichenbach (1854-1927) est l’autrice, dans les années 1920, de plusieurs discours sur la maternité dont la modernité mêlée de traditionalisme surprend et interroge aujourd’hui.
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