Sunday October 19th 2025 : Open 10am - 5pm

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The history of the Reformation

There is no other Museum like ours in the world. It's the only secular museum devoted to the history of both the Reformation and Protestantism. Paintings, objects, books, engravings and audiovisual features are available for your perusal in 12 vibrant rooms. Exhibition highlights include two paintings of Luther by Lucas Cranach, a letter written by Calvin and one by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

You're in for a remarkable cultural experience that's designed for a broad public. It's also a truly immersive experience, as we provide free audio guides in 14 languages and bring 15 important works to life through augmented reality.

Next temporary exhibition

Apocalypses. What did you see in Hiroshima?

Eighty years after the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, have we truly grasped the magnitude of this event? This exhibition by Geneva-based artist and photographer Nicolas Crispini explores his immediate memory and its legacy through various types of testimonials: photos, films, books, objects, sounds, comments, installations, and interviews.

The exhibition focuses on the themes of the Apocalypse and the nuclear threat that could wipe out all life on Earth. Many famous figures, such as the renowned Protestant Albert Schweitzer, remind us of this here.

The exhibition presents several fields of vision and listening, allowing visitors to gauge the scope of these two disasters: Hiroshima and Nagasaki devastated by the bomb, missing or mutilated bodies, testimonies from survivors of yesterday and today, and maps of nuclear tests carried out since 1945.

On the other side of these panoramas is the unconscious or organized propaganda promoting the military use of the atom by the victors of the Second World War: photos autographed by the passengers of the bombers of August 6 and 9, 1945, variations on the theme of the bomb in clothing, toys, comics, songs, the election of Miss Atomic Bomb in the US, and more.

For philosopher Denis de Rougemont, "the bomb is not dangerous at all. It is an object. What is horribly dangerous is man."

September 10, 2025 to January 11, 2026

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Testimonials

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A very beautiful and rich exhibition! Lots of emotions too… Thanks to everyone.

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Super interesting guide.

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Incredible museography, beautiful staging!

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Wonderful exhibit. Thank you ! This was such an interesting and informative experience

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Excellent, very informative & accessible

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This is a most wonderful exhibition of exhibits that displayed the origins and expansion of Reformation. Truly this museum is one of a kind and unique.  

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Congratulations!! Excellent way to show and instruct the public about the Reformation. Great addition of tablets to engage and teach children the round talk downstairs

slavery & Mary, video or Protests; the music corner; video on evolution of Protestantism, all unexpected and great.
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A really interesting museum. I really liked the music room and how interactive and engaging the exhibitions are!

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Excellent and thought provoking! Desmond Tutu and the Dutch Reformed Church, with “Protestant”, on opposite sides in Apartheid South Africa. A flexible creed indeed

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We love learning more about the Reformation! What a beautiful exhibit of historical importance. It'a amazing looking back on all of this rich history and beautiful bravery!

The Treasures of MIR

trésors du MIR : Portrait of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach
Treasures

Portrait of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach

The effigies of Luther painted by Lucas Cranach le Vieux, who was his ...

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trésors du MIR : Adam names the animals
Treasures

Adam names the animals

Here is an illustration taken from a splendid work that the MIR has i...

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trésors du MIR : History of the heresy of the iconoclasts
Treasures

History of the heresy of the iconoclasts

Scene of iconoclasm taking place in front of a church. The men in the ...

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trésors du MIR : The Temple of Paradise
Treasures

The Temple of Paradise

The painting from the Temple of Lyon called Paradise is one of the m...

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trésors du MIR : View of Geneva in 1548
Treasures

View of Geneva in 1548

Here is a beautiful colored engraving, representing a view of Geneva, ...

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trésors du MIR : Luther in hell and Calvin in hell
Treasures

Luther in hell and Calvin in hell

Two exceptional paintings by Heemskerck The two paintings depict Luthe...

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trésors du MIR : Writings of Martin Luther
Treasures

Writings of Martin Luther

The MIR has in its collection this interesting work, the first part o...

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trésors du MIR : First Register of the Company of Pastors
Treasures

First Register of the Company of Pastors

Among the priceless jewels of the MIR is this collection of manuscri...

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trésors du MIR : The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
Treasures

The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre

A central painting in the history of Protestantism. Founding work fo...

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trésors du MIR : Portrait of Charles IX
Treasures

Portrait of Charles IX

Here is a delightful little painting, created in the 19th century ba...

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