The Musée de la main UNIL-CHUV offers interactive temporary exhibitions on science, medicine and society. Located since 1997 at the heart of the CHUV in Lausanne, it invites visitors of all ages to handle, experiment and reflect.
Themed museums
Main highlights
- Themed exhibitions on consciousness, food, microbes, pain or sleep
- Immersive scenography with digital displays and hands-on installations
- Collection of around 1,600 items on the history of surgery and the hand across cultures
Overview
The Musée de la main UNIL-CHUV is located at the heart of the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). It works in partnership with the CHUV, the University of Lausanne and the Federal Institute of Technology, giving it an academic and scientific dimension.
It was founded by Professor Claude Verdan, a hand surgeon and collector. His collection of around 1,600 items traces the history of surgery and the representation of the hand in different cultures. It is not on permanent display : the museum has chosen to present themed temporary exhibitions instead.
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What to see and do
The museum operates solely through temporary exhibitions, which are regularly renewed. Each one explores a theme connected to everyday life, such as consciousness, food, microbes, pain or sleep, blending hard sciences, humanities and artistic approaches.
The spaces are designed as trails where you handle, observe and experiment. Digital displays sit alongside analogue installations : observe microbes under a microscope, test your sensory perceptions or explore the mechanisms of digestion.
Each exhibition comes with guided tours, meetings with researchers, talks and workshops. Families have dedicated trails and special activities. Teachers will find educational resources to prepare for and follow up on the visit in class.
Practical information
Getting there : metro m2 and buses 16 and 19, CHUV stop.
Visit duration : allow 1 to 1.5 hours, up to two hours with children.
Audience : displays suitable for ages 5 and up; school groups and families welcome.
Accessibility : the museum is fully wheelchair accessible.
Visitor tips
Take time to handle the displays and read the texts : the visit is best enjoyed actively. With children, weekends may offer special activities.
Check the programme on the museum’s website before you go. Talks and meetings with scientists complement the exhibition and give you a chance to ask questions.
Nearby
- The Fondation de l’Hermitage presents art exhibitions in a historic mansion.
- The Château St-Maire is a fortified 15th-century episcopal residence overlooking the old town.
- The Lausanne Cathedral has towered over the old town for more than 750 years with its medieval architecture.
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