Bourbaki Panorama
Bourbaki Panorama
A monumental circular painting capturing a dramatic episode of the Franco-Prussian War.
This 112-meter-long, 10-meter-high 360° painting vividly depicts the internment of General Bourbaki’s French army in neutral Switzerland during the winter of 1871. It’s more than an artwork – it’s a historical statement showcasing Swiss humanitarianism. Enhanced by immersive sound and light elements, along with a museum exhibition, the panorama brings 19th-century events to life in striking detail.
How to Get There
Ways to get to the attraction
Description
Detailed information about the attraction
What is this place
The Bourbaki Panorama in Lucerne is a circular painting housed in a rotunda by Löwenplatz. Painted in 1881 by Swiss artist Édouard Castres, it depicts the winter 1871 internment of the French Armée de l’Est and has become a symbol of Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition.
Key features
- Scale and format – a circular canvas ~112–115 m × ~9.8–10 m with a three-dimensional foreground for full immersion.
- Story 1871 – the internment of Bourbaki’s army and Swiss/Red Cross aid, a rare panoramic focus on war’s aftermath.
- Artist and team – Castres witnessed the event as a Red Cross volunteer; assistants included a young Ferdinand Hodler.
- Rotunda and complex – historic timber rotunda within a glass-and-steel shell with cinema, library and café; renewal completed in 2000.
- Visitor tools – 11-language info, an ambient sound loop and the “My Bourbaki Panorama” tablet app.
What to see
- The central viewing platform with 3D diorama and the encircling painting.
- Exhibits on the 1870–1871 campaign and the artist’s background.
- Nearby sights: the Lion Monument and Glacier Garden a short walk away.
History
Commissioned in 1876, the panorama premiered in Geneva in 1881. It moved to Lucerne in 1889, into a rotunda initially planned for a different panorama. In the 20th century the canvas was trimmed twice in height but kept its composition.
From the late 1970s restoration and display upgrades progressed. The present outer structure opened in 2000, turning the site into a museum-cultural hub and confirming its national heritage status.
Practical information
Location: Löwenplatz 11, 6004 Lucerne – by the Lion Monument and Glacier Garden.
Getting there: 15–20 minutes on foot from Luzern station via Seebrücke and Löwenstrasse; buses 1, 19, 22 to Löwenplatz.
Access: Ticketed entry; galleries are step-free with lifts and ramps.
Visiting hours: Apr–Oct 10:00–18:00; Nov–Mar 10:00–17:00; special holiday hours may apply.
Visit duration: 30–60 minutes.
Best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon for fewer groups; fully indoor in bad weather.
Notes: Tickets: adults CHF 15, concessions CHF 12, children 6–16 CHF 7; Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Museum Pass and Lucerne Museum Card grant free admission.
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