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Listening Experience Patumbah

English Guided Tour: 1st Wednesday of every month at 5pm

OLD TOWNS

Exhibition

A world of their own. Narrow winding streets, picturesque façades and rich layers of heritage: old town centres are symbols of cultural identity and magnets for tourism. They invite residents and visitors alike to stroll, dine, shop and enjoy the nightlife surrounded by history. And they provide…

Coffee corner

Visit

In our museum shop, you'll now find refreshing drinks, coffee and snacks, as well as new products: a notebook, a children's T-shirt and stickers. Combine your visit to the OLD TOWN exhibition with a relaxing break under the trees or arcades, then browse our museum shop.

Patumbah is
a place in Sumatra

Patumbah-liegt-auf-Sumatra-Ausstellung-Völkerkundemuseum-Universität-Zürich

Showcase exhibition

A villa and its colonial roots: the showcase exhibition takes a closer look at the history leading up to the extravagant Villa Patumbah, addressing the colonial ties of its builder Carl F. Grob in Southeast Asia. It shows key parts of the special exhibition Patumbah is a place in Sumatra…

Visit and take part

Ausstellung

Offers

Experience the history of the villa and park on a theatre tour? Sharpen your eye for the built environment on a guided tour? Actively engage in creative projects in the open studios for children and families? Or surprise your school class with a special excursion? Discover history and stories of…

Villa and park

Visit

Villa Patumbah is located in Zurich’s Seefeld district, surrounded by a spacious public park. It is one of the most important villa complexes of the late 19th century in the city of Zurich and closely intertwined with European colonial history. The Swiss Heritage Society rents out the Villa Patumbah…

European Heritage Days: Guided Tours

12 September 2026, 15:00

Short guided tours of the villa and the exhibition "Old Towns” as part of the…

Postmodernism in the Old Town

23 September 2026, 17:30

Guided tour through Oberdorf and Niederdorf focusing on changes in the Old Town…

Open House Zurich

26 September 2026, 15:00

Short guided tours of the villa and the exhibition in German.

Off through the alleys! A treasure hunt through the old town

27 September 2026, 14:00

A treasure hunt through the Old Town. Become Old Town detectives on a treasure…