Friday August 22th 2025 : Open 10am - 5pm

Share this page on social networks:

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

Prepare your visit Ticketing All events

Share this page on social networks:
Prepare your visit Ticketing

To discover at MIR

current expo
Event

Read more
next expo
Take a virtual tour of the Museum

A history of the Reformation

Read more
next expo
GROUP REQUEST

Group request

Read more

Testimonials

quote

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

quote

Super interesting guide.

quote

Incredible museography, beautiful staging!

quote

Exceptional place, Geneva. With Love.

quote

Thank you for the wonderful museum! We are finishing a study abroad program called “Arts and Reform in the Heart of Europe”. Your museum toed our themes together perfectly.

quote

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.  

quote

A beautiful and spiritually invigorating experience!

quote

A really interesting museum. I really liked the music room and how interactive and engaging the exhibitions are!

quote

Enjoyed the historical documents and art that tells the story of the Reformation.

quote

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 : Assembly in the Desert
Treasures

Assembly in the Desert

At the edge of a wood, the participants are gathered around a pastor...

Read more
trésors du MIR : The scripture chopping machine
Treasures

The scripture chopping machine

A caricature by Wolfgang-Adam Töpffer In this caricature, Töpff...

Read more
trésors du MIR : Statue of Erasmus of Rotterdam
Treasures

Statue of Erasmus of Rotterdam

Here is a Dutch engraving that visitors can admire at the MIR. On a br...

Read more
trésors du MIR : Letter addressed to Jacqueline d'Entremont by Gaspard de Coligny
Treasures

Letter addressed to Jacqueline d'Entremont by Gaspard de Coligny

This manuscript takes us to the very heart of French history and the r...

Read more
trésors du MIR : Marcourt cupboards
Treasures

Marcourt cupboards

During the night of October 17 to 18, 1534, this manifesto with the pr...

Read more
trésors du MIR : The harangues of Théodore de Bèze
Treasures

The harangues of Théodore de Bèze

The failure of the Poissy colloquium has a great impact. The notoriet...

Read more
trésors du MIR : Table of major world religions
Treasures

Table of major world religions

This engraving is the work of Bernard Picart (1673-1733), a famous eng...

Read more
trésors du MIR : Piece signed Henri III of France to Nicolas de Harlay
Treasures

Piece signed Henri III of France to Nicolas de Harlay

The MIR has, in its collection, this exceptional letter signed by King...

Read more
trésors du MIR : Letter from John Calvin to Guillaume Farel
Treasures

Letter from John Calvin to Guillaume Farel

Among a number of exceptional documents, the MIR presents this importa...

Read more
trésors du MIR : Caricatures of Calvin
Treasures

Caricatures of Calvin

Pen sketches made on the flyleaves of a small work by the theologian R...

Read more

To go further

Prepare your visit

All our advice

The audio guides are free with a choice of 10 languages

Read more
The Museum

Support us

The MIR operates for 20% of its costs on its ticketing resources

Read more
Media

Press

Press release and press kit and other useful documents

Read more