Museum Regiunal Surselva: A Journey into Surselva's Past

Step back in time at the Museum Regiunal Surselva, an ethnographic museum located in Ilanz, Switzerland, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich heritage of the Surselva region. The museum is housed within the Casa Carniec, a historic patrician house that was once the oldest residence of the noble Schmid von Grüneck family. The building itself is a treasure, with vaults in the cellar and ground floor dating back to the High Middle Ages. One room features stunning Renaissance murals, where the Schmid von Grünecks held celebrations and discussed important affairs. The museum's collection comprises around 11,000 objects, a portion of which is displayed in the permanent exhibition. The exhibits illustrate the pre-industrial way of life in the region, focusing on trades, agriculture, and domestic life. The museum highlights the cultural identities of the Romansh-speaking, German-speaking, and Walser communities within the Surselva. Through forty exhibition sections, visitors can explore artifacts from over 60 villages in the Surselva, gaining insight into how people organized their lives within family and village communities. In addition to the permanent displays, the Museum Regiunal Surselva regularly hosts special exhibitions. The museum also has a collection of ceramics that is available on the website of the Ceramica Foundation. The museum's archive and library are open to researchers upon request.