SWISS PUPPETRY MUSEUM – FRIBOURG
Marionette Collection, Performances and Cafe
It’s called a museum, but it is also a marionette themed café and performance space. In a building located in the lower old medieval town of Fribourg, next to the Pont de Milleu bridge, the Swiss Museum of Puppetry (Musee Suisse de la Marionette )was created in 1985 by street marionette performers, Jean and Marie-José Bindschedler Aebi. The little museum is upstairs on one floor above the café. The collection includes over 3,000 pieces in all, displayed on a rotating basis in darkened rooms of story themes. The exhibit features marionettes, shadow puppets and different puppetry techniques from around the world, with many examples from China, India, Indonesia, Burma, Africa, South America, and various European countries as well as Switzerland. Elle comprend également des magnifiques théâtres de papier, des masques et des décors. The collection also presents some beautiful masks and theatrical decorations. A video-viewing area, a space allowing for kids to play with puppets, a library and archives are available to visitors.
The core of the collection mostly consists of the stringed puppets assembled during a long career and world travels as puppeteering artists after Jean Bindschedler, who began as a painter and sculptor, started creating the puppets for his own shows. Included in the more interesting of the stories are the puppets from the “Passion of the Christ” with Pontius Pilate, who has his own curious connection to Switzerland - according to legend buried in a lake on the mountain named for him (see Mt Pilatus Lucerne), and marionette version of the opera Madame Butterfly.
The Théâtre des Marionnettes of Fribourg at the museum premises presents regular performances by a troupe of young enthusiastic performers following in the footsteps of the originator, offering inventive shows, with a new program each year, from late September through April when the shows are not traveling to other destinations. Guest performers from Switzerland and abroad are often invited.
Visiting the Puppetry Museum of Fribourg
The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday except for arranged guided tours. Also closed December 25 and 26. Admission to the museum is 5 CHF for adults, 4 CHF for students, seniors and children. Group tours on request ar 50 CHF. Performances of Puppet Theater of Fribourg are 15 CHF for adults and 7 CHF for children. Tickets can be bought at the tourism office of Fribourg near the train station as well as at the theater. The cafe offers indoor and terrace seating surrounded by the marrionette theme and river view. © Bargain
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SEE ALSO:
WATCHMAKING MUSEUM – LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS
PUPPENHAUS - BASEL DOLLS HOUSE MUSEUM
MUSEUM OF MUSIC AUTOMATONS - SEEWEN
