Maison Tavel

Maison Tavel, on the Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre in Geneva's old town, Switzerland, is the city's oldest surviving private residence, dating to around 1334 after a fire destroyed the earlier building. It is now a free museum run by the Musées d'art et d'histoire, devoted to the urban history of Geneva from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Visitors move through the stone house from the vaulted cellars to the upper floors, passing reconstructed interiors, furniture, weapons, ceramics, paintings, carved architectural fragments and everyday objects that show how Genevans lived. The star exhibit is the Magnin relief, an 1850 scale model of the city before its fortifications were demolished, displayed in the attic and showing every street and building in remarkable detail. Looking at it from different angles is a good way to understand the old-town layout before walking out to explore it. Other highlights include a collection of painted shop signs, a display on the Escalade, the failed Savoyard attack of 1602 that Geneva still celebrates each December, and a medieval tower stair. The museum is compact and a visit takes 45 minutes to an hour. It is quiet on most days, making it a good option for a rainy afternoon, and the free entry removes any pressure to see everything. Crowds are light outside school visits, and mornings are often emptier than afternoons. Opening hours are 11:00AM to 6:00PM from Tuesday to Sunday, and the museum is closed on Mondays. Texts are given in French and English. Maison Tavel stands close to the cathedral, the Place du Bourg-de-Four and the Maison de Rousseau et de la Littérature, so it fits naturally into an old-town walking route. Photography is usually allowed without flash.