Maison Tavel House Museum, Geneva

A unique testimony to medieval architecture in Switzerland, the Maison Tavel (Tavel House) is a listed historic building, one of the oldest in Geneva. The house was built in the 12th century by the Tavels, a noble Genevan family, hence the name. In 1334, it was reconstructed following a devastating fire, upon which it received an urban palace appearance. Having changed hands several times over the course of centuries between various influential local families, the house was finally acquired in 1963 by the City of Geneva, which undertook its thorough and exemplary restoration. In 1986, the property was turned into a museum of history of Geneva set to illustrate the city's urban development and various aspects of its daily life throughout centuries.

The exhibits 鈥� artifacts and historical objects focusing mostly on Geneva's medieval period 鈥� are spread over six floors and an underground section. In front of the museum there is a line of huge canons. The highlight of the exhibition, on the top floor, is a multimedia presentation on screen and a huge 3D map of Geneva outlining the city's history from the early days through the modern times, called "Geneva, history made-to-measure", with an audio provided in English, French, and German.

On the ground floor there is a reception desk. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. Toilets and cloakroom, resembling a cave, are in the basement. There is also an exposition of historical measurements and machine weights, as well as an impressive 6,300-liter wooden barrel.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Geneva. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Maison Tavel House Museum
Sight Location: Geneva, Switzerland (See walking tours in Geneva)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Architectural Jewels

Walking Tours in Geneva, Switzerland

Create Your Own Walk in Geneva

Creating your own self-guided walk in Geneva is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Geneva Introduction Walking Tour

The city of Geneva enjoys picturesque location at the southern tip of the expansive Lac L茅man (aka Lake Geneva), surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, including the dramatic Mont Blanc peak.

The city was mentioned for the first time in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava, derived probably from the Celtic genawa- or genu- ("bend, knee"), in the sense of a bending... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Best Swiss Watch Shops Tour

When it comes to quality and precision, Swiss-made watches are known to be the best. Some of the world-renowned watch brands have been designed and masterminded in Geneva. The city's watch industry dates back to the 16th century, and since then has constantly developed to produce the most desired timepieces.

Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Architectural Jewels

Geneva, a city renowned for its diplomatic prowess and picturesque landscapes, boasts an array of architectural jewels. The remarkable medieval and more contemporary structures such as Geneva Town Hall (H么tel de Ville), Saint Peter Cathedral (Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre), and Schtroumph Buildings, showing a mix of French and German influences, have captivated both locals and tourists for decades.
... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Historical Churches

As the cradle of the Reformist movement in Europe led by theologian Jean Calvin, the city of Geneva has no shortage of religious sites representing a great deal of historical and cultural value. A dedicated Christian, a keen churchgoer, or simply one who is interested in objects of spirituality will find here quite a few temples worthy of attention.

Whether you're drawn to the austere... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

Chocolate Tour

Chocolate started to gain popularity in Switzerland in the early 16th century and has since evolved to become a highly appreciated Swiss commodity throughout the world. Almost every city or town in the country has at least one chocolate shop, and Geneva is by far no exception.

The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

51爆料网