Zurich - Swiss National Museum

(Local Name: Schweizerisches Landesmuseum) Immediately north of the Zurich station is the Swiss National Museum (Schweizerisches Landesmuseum), a large castellated building with Gothic elements which was built 1893-1898 to designs by Gustav Gull. It contains the most important collection of material on the history and culture of Switzerland. The main departments in this richly stocked museum are as follows: pre-history and the early historical period; weapons, flags and militaria; goldsmiths' and silversmiths' work; articles in non-ferrous metals and pewter; ceramics and glass; textiles, costume and jewelry; coins and medals; seals; stained glass; sculpture; furniture and domestic interiors; painting and graphic art; clocks, watches and scientific instruments; musical instruments; rural life; craft and industrial antiquities; library; special exhibitions. Of particular interest among the scientific instruments are the celestial globe by Jost Bürgi (1552-1632), the works of religious art and medieval wall paintings (including works by Hans Fries), the unique collection of old stained glass, the Armory, with the celebrated murals by Hodler, a series of period rooms of the Gothic to Baroque periods, the most important antiquities in Switzerland of pre- and early history, and the largest collection of coins and medals in the country.

Among the most interesting textiles are a series of battle flags from the 15th century including those from the Burgundian wars.