Since 1979, the Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny has hosted temporary exhibitions devoted to great names in art. You can also visit an archaeological museum, an automobile museum and a sculpture park dotted with Gallo-Roman remains.
Fine and applied arts museums
Main highlights
- Temporary exhibitions that have featured Picasso, Rodin, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir
- Automobile museum with around fifty vehicles from 1897 to 1939, all in working order
- Gallo-Roman remains in the gardens : baths and the wall of the temenos, the ancient sacred enclosure
Overview
The Fondation Pierre Gianadda is located in Martigny, in the canton of Valais. Since 1979, it has staged several temporary exhibitions each year, earning an international reputation for their quality and the choice of their themes.
Its programme has featured works by Picasso, Rodin, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir. The site also brings together archaeology and motoring : Gallo-Roman remains were unearthed on the foundation’s own grounds, and an automobile museum opened here in 1981.
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What to see and do
The main hall hosts the major temporary exhibitions. On the reception level, an archaeological museum displays the key finds from excavations carried out in Martigny, which bear witness to the Gallo-Roman past of the ancient town.
The automobile museum brings together around fifty vintage vehicles built between 1897 and 1939, all in working order. Highlights include a Stanley steam car, an 1897 Benz and Jeanperrin, the Delaunay-Belleville of Tsar Nicholas II, a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a Hispano-Suiza and a Mercedes SSK, as well as Swiss models such as the Pic-Pic.
The shady gardens, enhanced by ponds, contain Gallo-Roman remains (baths and the temenos wall) and a permanent exhibition of sculptures by contemporary artists. Admission to the park is free.
Practical information
Getting there : the foundation can be reached by public transport from Martigny station and has a free car park.
Visit duration : allow at least two hours for the temporary exhibition, the automobile museum and the permanent collections.
On site : café-restaurant and audio guides.
Visitors : the sculpture park is ideal for a family break.
Visiting tips
The automobile museum is on the second basement level. The audio guides provide helpful commentary on the works.
Check for guided tours and concerts before your visit. The free-access sculpture park offers a pleasant break between areas.
Nearby
- Barryland, in Martigny, is a theme park dedicated to the Saint Bernard, Switzerland’s national dog.
- The Gorges du Trient, near Vernayaz, is a narrow, deep gorge spanned by two bridges.
- The Musée d’art du Valais, in Sion’s old town, showcases the art collection of the canton of Valais.
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