Image: Château de Prangins
The Château de Prangins – Swiss National Museum inaugurated its new permanent exhibition 'La Suisse. C’est quoi?' on 18 June, after the exhibition page was published on 3 June 2022. The exhibition examines myths and clichés about Switzerland and confronts them with the daily life of its population.
Its investigation extends from the 18th century to the present, placing ideas about Switzerland alongside the experiences of everyday life across that period. The exhibition’s rooms address identity, territory, family and the role of women, as well as work and democracy, as themes considered important to understanding Switzerland past and present.
A presentation intended particularly for younger generations brings their voices together with testimonies from people who contributed to Switzerland’s prosperity from the late 19th century onward. The exhibition therefore includes both the perspectives of younger people and the testimonies of those associated with the country’s prosperity beginning in that period.
An educational strand asks students to investigate the founding myths and clichés that shaped Switzerland’s reputation. Their inquiry considers where these stereotypes came from, how they arose, whether they should be accepted as true or nuanced, and how narratives were distorted over time.
At its conclusion, the public is asked to consider a myth that remains current: that of ‘Swiss happiness’.
