At Löwenplatz in Lucerne, the Bourbaki Panorama puts you inside a vast circular painting of a defining episode from the Franco-Prussian War. Édouard Castres and fellow Swiss artists depict the French army’s retreat into Switzerland in 1871, when its soldiers were disarmed and sheltered. The canvas, about 112 metres around and 10 metres high, fills a rotunda, with three-dimensional objects set in front of it. Displays on the lower level explain the conflict and the Swiss humanitarian response before you view the panorama above.
The retreat into Switzerland
The panorama depicts the arrival of the French Eastern Army in Switzerland during the winter of 1871. During the Franco-Prussian War, about 87,000 soldiers crossed the border after the army’s retreat. Switzerland disarmed and sheltered them. The scene records both the soldiers’ hardship and the humanitarian response to their arrival.
Swiss artist Édouard Castres created the work with other Swiss artists. It belongs to the 19th-century tradition of panoramic paintings: large circular canvases designed to surround the viewer. The Bourbaki Panorama is among the few examples of this form still in existence.
How the visit unfolds
The museum presents background information on the lower level, including the conflict, the retreat and the Swiss relief effort. Take time with these displays before heading upstairs: the historical context helps make sense of the many details in the painting.
The upper-level canvas measures about 112 metres in circumference and 10 metres in height. Three-dimensional objects in front of it extend the scene beyond the painted surface. Together, the curved image and foreground elements create a view that takes in the retreat from all sides.
The panorama is housed in a rotunda at Löwenplatz. The wider complex also includes a cinema, library, exhibition space and restaurants. The route between levels involves stairs; staff can help visitors who need assistance.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does the Bourbaki Panorama depict?
It shows the French army’s retreat into Switzerland during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, and the soldiers’ internment and care there.
How large is the painting?
The circular canvas measures about 112 metres around and 10 metres high.
Is the Bourbaki Panorama accessible without climbing stairs?
The route between the lower displays and the upper panorama involves stairs. Staff assistance is available; contact the museum if you need help with access.
