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Museum · Lucerna, Lucerna
Bourbaki Panorama
A 112 m circular painting by Édouard Castres from 1881, showing the arrival in Suíça of General Bourbaki's French army in 1871, in a round building near the Leão.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Bourbaki Panorama
The Bourbaki Panorama holds a 19th-century circular painting, a popular spectacle genre before cinema. The canvas is 112 m long and surrounds the visitor, who views it from a platform in the center of the round building.
The scene depicts February 1871, at the end of the Franco-Prussian War. The French Eastern Army, commanded by General Bourbaki, defeated and exhausted, crosses the border in the snow at Les Verrières and is disarmed and received by Suíça. The painting portrays soldiers, the wounded and local people who welcome them, in an episode linked to the history of the Cruz Vermelha.
The painter Édouard Castres accompanied the army as a volunteer and painted the canvas with a team that included the young Ferdinand Hodler. First exhibited in Genebra in 1881, it arrived in Lucerna in 1889.
A museum around explains the historical context and the panorama technique, with foreground objects that blend into the painting.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour.
Best time
At any time of year; it's an indoor program, good for rainy days. Combine with the Löwendenkmal and the Gletschergarten, a few minutes away.
How to get there
It is at Löwenplatz, about a 15-minute walk from the station. City buses stop in front.
Tip
Use the audio guide or the museum text before going up to the platform: understanding the scene changes how you see the painting.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bourbaki Panorama
What does the Bourbaki Panorama show?
The entry into Switzerland of General Bourbaki's French army in February 1871, and the population's reception of the soldiers.
What is the size of the painting?
The circular canvas measures 112 m in length.
Is it near the Leão de Lucerna?
Yes, a few minutes on foot from the Löwendenkmal and the Gletschergarten.