Journey through five millennia of the written word at the reimagined Fondation Martin Bodmer, now open to visitors.

This autumn, visitors to Geneva can look forward to visiting a newly redesigned cultural icon at the recently reopened Fondation Martin Bodmer – a unique heritage library recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dedicated to exploring writing from its origins to the present day.

The museum’s new permanent exhibition traces the major milestones of the human journey across five millennia, taking visitors on a voyage from the invention of writing through to the masterpieces of modern thought. Charting nearly 250 books and objects, around 80% of which are being presented to the public for the first time, the Foundation reopens under the leadership of Marc Adam Kolakowski, a written heritage expert and former assistant at the Bodmer Lab.

The new permanent exhibition features standout pieces from across the ages, including 2nd century B.C. Greek papyrus fragments from Homer’s Odyssey, a 16th century portrait attributed to Kanô Motonobu, a 1758 autographed manuscript of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Letter to D’Alembert, and a 1780 illustrated edition of Cervantes’ Don Quixote. A monumental reproduction of a medieval manuscript, named The Great Book, is another exhibition highlight, featuring a built-in touchscreen with an interactive glossary to enhance the guest experience.

Further improving the visitor experience is a new GEED digital guide, accessible via smartphone and available in ten languages, allowing visitors to experience the exhibition in a whole new way. Bringing a new dimension to the permanent exhibition is the introduction of a series of lectures and events, with the programme to be announced in full in the coming weeks at the Fondation Martin Bodmer website.

The museum will open Tuesday through Sunday from 2 to 6pm, with cultural evening hours until 9pm on the first Wednesday of every month, including a free guided tour at 7pm. Admission is CHF 15 (GBP 13.50) for adults, CHF 10 (GBP 9) for concessions, and free for under 18s and Geneva City Pass holders.

For more information, please visit the Geneva Tourism website.