The Ariana Museum is the Swiss Museum of Ceramics and Glass, housed in a neoclassical palace in Geneva’s Ariana Park. Explore seven centuries of the arts of fire through 27,000 objects from Switzerland and around the world.
Themed museums
Main highlights
- 27,000 objects in ceramics and glass tracing seven centuries of creation in Switzerland and beyond
- “Entrée en matière” tactile area where you can touch ceramics, glass, brick and tile
- Specialist library with over 10,000 books and around 100 journal titles
Overview
The Ariana Museum stands near the Palais des Nations in Geneva. It ranks among Europe’s major museums dedicated to the arts of fire, with 27,000 objects in ceramics and glass.
Genevan patron Gustave Revilliod had this neoclassical palace built in tribute to his mother, Ariane Revilliod De la Rive. The museum opened in 1884 with more than 30,000 pieces gathered on his travels. Attached to the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève in 1934, it came to specialise in ceramics, then added glass in 1986 and stained glass in 2000.
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What to see and do
The permanent exhibition spans continents and eras, from Chinese porcelain to European faience, and from ancient glass to contemporary works. The Chinese porcelain gallery recalls the expeditions of the East India Companies, with famille rose, Kakiemon, Imari and monochrome pieces, an audio travel journal, drawn plates and a tactile table.
The “Entrée en matière” educational area lets everyone touch the materials of the objects on display : ceramics, glass, brick and tile. This sensory approach helps visitors understand techniques and materials.
On the first floor, the library holds over 10,000 books, around 100 journal titles and digital resources on the arts of fire. The online Collections platform also lets you explore the works in detail.
Practical information
Getting there : TPG buses to the Appia, Ariana and Nations stops, tram 15, or the Léman Express to Genève-Sécheron station, about a 12-minute walk away. The paid Nations car park is nearby.
Visit duration : allow 2 to 3 hours.
Accessibility : vehicles displaying a disabled parking badge may drive through the park up to the entrance.
On site : cloakroom in the basement, accessible by lift.
Visitor tips
Tactile and descriptive tours for blind or visually impaired visitors, tours in French Sign Language (LSF) and Easy-to-Read French (FALC), and Relax tours for people with intellectual disabilities are available by reservation.
Set aside some time for Ariana Park, with its century-old trees and views over Lake Geneva.
Nearby attractions
- The Palais des Nations, built between 1929 and 1936, houses the European headquarters of the United Nations.
- The Musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève presents art and history collections in an early 20th-century building.
- The Geneva Conservatory and Botanical Garden invites you to stroll among a vast collection of living plants.
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