Zentrum Paul Klee Museum

Address: Monument im Fruchtland 3, 3006 Bern, Switzerland

Website: https://www.zpk.org/

Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm, Mon closed

Admission: CHF 18-22 (adult) depending on temporary exhibitions; reductions for students and children

Zentrum Paul Klee is a museum in Bern, Switzerland, dedicated to the work and legacy of the artist Paul Klee; the purpose-built building opened in 2005. The facility was created to bring together Klee’s holdings and to provide exhibition, research and education spaces.

The museum presents a large, focused collection of paintings, drawings and graphic works by Paul Klee, with thematic and chronological displays and regular temporary exhibitions. Galleries concentrate on Klee’s techniques and motifs, and the site runs educational programmes and workshops for children and adults. The building also hosts lectures, film screenings and scholarly events in its auditorium.

The centre was established to house and display the artist’s works and related archives; the new building consolidated holdings previously shown elsewhere in Bern and created a research facility. Since opening it has combined exhibition spaces with a research library and public programmes focusing on Klee’s output and modernist contexts.

Located on the eastern edge of Bern, the museum sits a short distance from the city centre and is accessible by public transport; it is sited in a park-like setting designed to integrate the building with its surroundings.

• Building and opening: Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and opened in 2005 to house and present the Paul Klee collection in a purpose-built facility.
• Collection highlights: Holds the principal public collection of works by Paul Klee, with several hundred works on permanent display and larger holdings rotated in special exhibitions.

What to See#

• Klee collection galleries: Main exhibition galleries displaying paintings, drawings and prints by Paul Klee arranged thematically and chronologically; the presentation includes rotating displays from the permanent collection.
• Archive and research centre: Research archive and library holding documents, sketches and correspondence related to Paul Klee and modernist scholarship; available to researchers by appointment.
• Education and workshop area: Education and workshop spaces used for family programmes, temporary courses and school visits; facilities support hands-on workshops and guided activities.
• Forum and auditorium: Auditorium and temporary exhibition halls used for lectures, film screenings and rotating international exhibitions alongside the permanent displays.

From Bern city center, take bus line 19 toward Zentrum Paul Klee (ZPK) or the local tram/bus connections that serve the museum stop; it’s a short ride from Bern’s main train station. The walk from central Bern is possible but uphill.

• Buy tickets that include temporary exhibitions; those often house the ZPK's best shows and justify the trip to the outskirts of Bern.
• Take the museum's audio guide to understand Paul Klee's color theories and rhythmic compositions; the center's architecture was designed to complement Klee's work.
• Combine the visit with a walk along the nearby Aare river or the Gurten for broader Bernese scenery.