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Glacier Garden – Journey to the center of time

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Travel back in time and discover what Lucerne looked like when glaciers covered the land. Or when subtropical palm beaches were a feature of the landscape.

The Glacier Garden contains kettle basins dating from the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago, as well as fossilised shells and palm leaves from the subtropical ocean region of 20 million years ago.

Felsenwelt

The Glacier Garden adventure now also leads into the dark mountain interior. In the Felsenwelt, the Lucerne sandstone tells some of its history and reveals its hidden secrets. Starting from its formation at the primordial sea, the unfolding to the mountains to the modeling during the ice ages. The journey through millions of years leads by an underground lake to the center of time and through a futuristic Gartenhof up to the Sommerau. Upon their return to the light, guests can enjoy a view of Lucerne all the way to the Alps.

The quest game "Lily & Börni" allows children and families to discover the Glacier Garden in a playful and interactive way. 

The Museum

In this stage of your journey through time, you will explore the sometimes, whimsical objects in the Amrein family's cabinets of curiosities. Many of them date back to the 19th century. But quite a few are also older. They bear witness to the diverse interests of the founding family of the Glacier Garden.

While the women collected furniture and household furnishings, the men were interested in geology and in the booming field of archaeology.

As a result of the increasing lack of space, the former residence was transformed, at an early stage, into a multi-faceted museum.

A particular specialty are the numerous historical landscape reliefs, such as the glacier relief by the famous alpine geologist Albert Heim - a friend of the Amrein family - in the newly designed glacier salon. 

The mirror maze

Its 90 mirrors sow utter confusion and make it look as if the routes through the maze are never-ending – even though they are, in fact, short. Feel your way slowly along the passages – and enjoy finding your way out. More Information

Opening hours

1 April to 31 October 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily
1 November to 31 March 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily

Guided tours by appointment; drinks by prior arrangement. Guided tours with/without drinks outside normal opening hours by prior arrangement.


150Years of the Glacier Garden Lucerne

On 13 September 2023, the Gletschergarten Luzern will open its anniversary exhibition. The focus is on the folding art of Sipho Mabona. The internationally renowned artist has his roots in origami, the art of folding paper. His latest works, produced especially for the Gletschergarten, focus on the constant change of nature, fauna and flora and create new dimensions with their shapes and colours in the middle of the Gletschergarten.

 

Location and contact

Gletschergarten Luzern
Denkmalstrasse 4
6006 Luzern
+41 (0)41 410 43 40
infogletschergarten.ch
www.gletschergarten.ch
Location partly accessible/usable
Wheelchair-accessible WC available
Designated disabled parking bays available