Historical collection

822 23 Totentanz 2

The historical collection comprises some 99,000 objects dating from the Early Middle Ages to the present day. Three large complexes which came to Bern as a result of either wars or battles form the core: the Burgundian booty from the battle of Grandson (1476) and two church treasures from Königsfelden Abbey (conquest of Canton Argovia 1415) and from the Cathedral in Lausanne (conquest of Canton Vaud 1536). The inventory of the Bern Arsenal was added early on, as were the remains of the Bern Cathedral treasure. The collection is an archive of material relating to the entire history of the state and the city of Bern up to the present day. The often extraordinarily good condition of the individual artefacts makes this collection unique.