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 on the shore of Lake Geneva, between the towns of Vevey and Montreux. This museum is all about collecting, studying, and sharing different kinds of board games and other indoor games. It's unique because it focuses only on games, not on toys like dolls or model cars. It's the oldest museum of its kind in Europe! The museum has a huge collection of over 10,000 games from all over the world, some even from ancient times.
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How the Museum Started
In 1979, the town of La Tour-de-Peilz bought the old castle by Lake Geneva. They wanted to open it up to the public for fun and games. A group called the 'friends of the castle' helped get the place ready. Their first exhibition, about "Table Games and Checkers," opened in November 1981.
Soon after, the town asked Michel Etter, a local teacher, to create a plan for a museum. He also helped gather the first collection of games.
The museum officially opened its doors 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 received a special mention at the European Museums of the Year award.
In 2003, the museum and its collections moved to a new Foundation. A group called the association of the friends of the museum then took over from the old 'friends of the castle' group. Since 2002, Dr. Ulrich Schädler, an archaeologist and game expert, has been in charge of the museum.
What You Can See: Permanent Exhibition
The main exhibition at the museum takes you on a journey through the world of games. You can see games from ancient times right up to today. The exhibition is split into 10 different parts, each showing a different type of game or games from a certain place:
- Voyajeux (games from Africa, Asia, and South America)
- Back to the beginning (Ancient Games)
- European Games before factories made them
- Playing Cards - card games
- The body at stake (games that need skill and movement)
- India – a country full of games
- The games market (how games were sold)
- "Ye Olde Castle" - English Pub Games
- Win the jackpot! (Lotteries and other chance games)
- Outdoor games
Since 2007, the museum also has a fun outdoor playground. It's a great place to play in the castle garden. The museum also shows many outdoor games that you can play with or without special equipment.
There's also a café and rooms you can rent for events at the museum.
Special Exhibitions
The museum often hosts special, temporary exhibitions. These shows focus on different themes or types of games for a limited time. For example, some past exhibitions have explored topics like chess as art, games from Switzerland, or games of chance. They also had shows about building games, string games, and even games related to World War I. These special exhibits keep the museum fresh and exciting for visitors.
The Castle Building
The castle where the museum is located is very old. It was built in the Middle Ages to protect the area. It helped watch over boats on Lake Geneva and collect taxes. In 1476, during the Burgundy Wars, the castle was destroyed. 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 two corner towers, the walls, and the ditches around the castle were named historical monuments in 1973.
The Library
The museum has a special library with about 5,000 books. It includes the book and letter 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 main exhibitions, the museum offers many fun activities. They have workshops for kids, adults, and even businesses. Teachers can get special materials to use for lessons. The museum also holds regular events, like an international Awele tournament. They also host an annual meeting for people who create new games in Switzerland. The museum even displays the winning game ideas from a competition called "Premio Archimede."
Since 2009, every September, the museum organizes a big event called Château du Jeu (Castle of Games). This special Sunday brings together game makers, game clubs, and lots of people who love to play games. It's a very popular event that happens every year.
Friends of the Museum Association
The Friends of the Swiss Museum of Games is a group that started in 2003. Their main goal is to help the museum grow and get better. They want to add more games to the collection and connect more with the public.
This group brings together people who love games and see them as an important part of culture. They help make the museum more famous, fund research about games, and support studies or special projects. They also help add to the museum's collection and encourage volunteers to help out. The association works to improve museum services and organize talks about games.
See also
- List of museums in Switzerland
