Swiss Museum of Games facts for kids
The Swiss Museum of Games is a special place in La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland. It sits right by Lake Geneva, between the towns of Vevey and Montreux. This museum is all about games – how to keep them safe, learn about them, and share them with everyone.
What makes it different? This museum focuses only on "games," not "toys" like dolls or model trains. It's the oldest museum of its kind and the only one in Europe. The museum has a huge collection of over 10,000 games. These games come from all over the world and from different times, from ancient history to today.
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How the Museum Started
The story of the museum began in 1979. The town of La Tour-de-Peilz bought the old castle right on Lake Geneva. They wanted to open this historic place to the public for fun and play.
A group called the 'friends of the castle' helped get the place ready. In November 1981, they held their first exhibition. It was all about "Table Games and Checkers."
Soon after, the town asked Michel Etter to create a plan for a museum. He was a teacher in La Tour-de-Peilz at the time. He also helped gather the first collection of games.
The museum officially opened in 1987. It quickly became an important part of the Swiss museum scene. Before this, no one in Switzerland had really thought about saving old games. In 1989, the museum even won a special award from the European Museums of the Year.
Since 2002, Dr. Ulrich Schädler has been in charge of the museum. He is an archaeologist and an expert on games.
What You Can See: Permanent Exhibits
The museum's main exhibition shows you the amazing world of games. You can see games from ancient times to now. The exhibits are grouped into different types of games.
Here are some of the areas you can explore:
- Voyajeux: Games from Africa, Asia, and South America.
- Back to the beginning: Very old games from history.
- European Games: Games played in Europe before machines made things.
- Playing Cards: All about card games.
- The body at stake: Games that test your skill.
- India – country of games: Games from India.
- The games market: How games were bought and sold.
- "Ye Olde Castle": English pub games.
- Win the jackpot!: Lotteries and other chance games.
- Outdoor games: Games played outside.
Since 2007, the museum also has a fun outdoor playground. It's a great place to walk and play in the castle garden. The museum also shows many outdoor games that use equipment or none at all.
The museum also has a café where you can relax. You can also rent rooms for events.
Special Exhibitions
The museum often hosts special, temporary exhibitions. These shows focus on different types of games or game history for a short time. Some past topics have included chess as art, games from Switzerland, and games about chance. They've also had shows about building games, Japanese Go prints, and games from World War I.
The Castle Building
The castle where the museum is located is very old. It was built in the Middle Ages. It helped protect the area by watching boat traffic on Lake Geneva. It also collected taxes from traders.
In 1476, the castle was destroyed during a war. Later, in 1747, a French officer named Jean Grésier bought and rebuilt it. In the early 1900s, more parts were added, like an arched walkway and a main entrance tower. The castle's old towers, walls, and ditches were named historical monuments in 1973.
The Library
The museum has a special library with about 5,000 books. It includes the collection of Ken Whyld. He was an English historian who studied chess and passed away in 2003. If you are interested, you can visit the library by asking ahead of time.
Museum Activities and Events
Besides the exhibits, the museum offers many fun activities. They have workshops for kids, adults, and even businesses. Teachers can get special materials to use with their students.
The museum also holds regular events. These include an international Awele tournament and a yearly meeting for Swiss game makers. The museum also shows the winning game ideas from the "Premio Archimede" competition.
Since 2009, there's a big event every September called Château du Jeu (Castle of Games). It brings together game companies, game groups, and lots of people who love games. This event happens every year on a Sunday.
Friends of the Museum
The "Friends of the Swiss Museum of Games" is a group started in 2003. They help the museum grow and get better. They want to add more games to the collection and connect with more people.
Their goals include bringing together people who love games. They also help make the museum more famous and support research about games. They help publish studies and special works. They also encourage volunteers to help at the museum and organize talks.
