Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek Bern, Hallwylstrasse 15, 3005 Bern
In Switzerland, everyone has their lake.
Large expanses of water and small mountain waters: Switzerland's 1500 or so lakes shape our landscape as well as our imagination. As the "water castle of Europe", Switzerland has developed around its waters, which have played a key role in the country's economic, social and cultural transformation.
Based on the collections of the Swiss National Library, the exhibition Lakes, Mirror of Switzerland delves into our history and our myths - from the founding legend to the modern narrative, from the bathing tradition to the construction of dams and artificial lakes. The omnipresent waters have always been a source of inspiration for artistic and literary creation. The result is a shared heritage that combines nature and culture.
Like the snow-covered mountain peaks, the crystal-clear water of our lakes conveys the image of a clean, idyllic Swiss landscape that has become an important tourism factor. The exhibition invites us to travel and marvel and to (re)discover the Swiss lakes as a reflection of the country's identity.
Supporting program
Vernissage of the exhibition
12.3.2026, 18.00 hrs
Public vernissage
With the writer Daniel de Roulet
Museum night
20.3.2026, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Lake-themed activities for children and adults
Public guided tours
22.4.2026, 5.30 pm
Guided tour of the exhibition with the curator Benjamin Michelet (in French)
28.4.2026, 17.30 hrs
Images of longing. Idyllic postcards and retro posters
From idyllic postcards and retro posters from the Swiss National Library to charming souvenirs in the ALPS: the joint tour focuses on staged images of lakes and tourist locations that are still photographed and marketed according to the same patterns today.
In partnership with the ALPS, admission: Fr. 20.
The tour begins at the ALPS.
Registration: ALPS
DANCE FEST, performance "A SEC !"
8.5.2026, 5.30 pm
Before the performance there will be a guided tour through the exhibition with the curator Benjamin Michelet (in German).
Literary soirée
20.5.2026, 18.00 hrs
Robert Walser's "Seeland"
Literary soirée with Barbara Piatti, Monique Schwitter and Reto Sorg
In cooperation with the Robert Walser Center
Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.
Large expanses of water and small mountain waters: Switzerland's 1500 or so lakes shape our landscape as well as our imagination. As the "water castle of Europe", Switzerland has developed around its waters, which have played a key role in the country's economic, social and cultural transformation.
Based on the collections of the Swiss National Library, the exhibition Lakes, Mirror of Switzerland delves into our history and our myths - from the founding legend to the modern narrative, from the bathing tradition to the construction of dams and artificial lakes. The omnipresent waters have always been a source of inspiration for artistic and literary creation. The result is a shared heritage that combines nature and culture.
Like the snow-covered mountain peaks, the crystal-clear water of our lakes conveys the image of a clean, idyllic Swiss landscape that has become an important tourism factor. The exhibition invites us to travel and marvel and to (re)discover the Swiss lakes as a reflection of the country's identity.
Supporting program
Vernissage of the exhibition
12.3.2026, 18.00 hrs
Public vernissage
With the writer Daniel de Roulet
Museum night
20.3.2026, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Lake-themed activities for children and adults
Public guided tours
22.4.2026, 5.30 pm
Guided tour of the exhibition with the curator Benjamin Michelet (in French)
28.4.2026, 17.30 hrs
Images of longing. Idyllic postcards and retro posters
From idyllic postcards and retro posters from the Swiss National Library to charming souvenirs in the ALPS: the joint tour focuses on staged images of lakes and tourist locations that are still photographed and marketed according to the same patterns today.
In partnership with the ALPS, admission: Fr. 20.
The tour begins at the ALPS.
Registration: ALPS
DANCE FEST, performance "A SEC !"
8.5.2026, 5.30 pm
Before the performance there will be a guided tour through the exhibition with the curator Benjamin Michelet (in German).
Literary soirée
20.5.2026, 18.00 hrs
Robert Walser's "Seeland"
Literary soirée with Barbara Piatti, Monique Schwitter and Reto Sorg
In cooperation with the Robert Walser Center
Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.