Let yourself be dazzled by the magnificence of our star pieces, and plunge into the luxurious world of late mediaeval princes.

The exhibition, extending over about 360 m², features works that arrived here as the result of Bern’s successful military campaigns and territorial expansion in the 15th and early 16th centuries.After Bern’s conquest of Aargau and Vaud, and the victory of the Swiss Confederates over Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, a wealth of booty fell into the hands of the Bernese. The top quality materials used in these items, their technical sophistication and their often unusual aesthetics meant they were different from anything known or produced in Bern at that time.

This “captured treasure” is part of our world class collection. It includes, for example, the 15th century Flemish tapestries and the Königsfelden diptych made in Venice for the King of Hungary.