On the Trail. Hiking in Switzerland

Hiking is one of the most popular leisure activities in Switzerland. The ‘On the Trail’ exhibition examines the topic from various angles, and takes you on a multi-faceted journey through space and time.

Art and transformation

The discovery of the Alps by 18th-century poets, painters and scientists marks the starting point of your journey. Illustrated publications, coloured outline etchings, watercolours and drawings convey the growing appreciation of the mountain landscape. Depictions of glaciers, waterfalls and lakes flowing into Alpine valleys transform these remote places into sought-after destinations, inspiring both longing and fear.

Hiking today

Today, hiking is among Switzerland’s most popular leisure activities. A dense network of around 65,000 kilometres of walking trails, mountain trails and technical Alpine trails invites visitors to explore the country’s diverse landscapes on foot.

The exhibition shows how to prepare properly for a hike and explains the symbols used on hiking maps.

Wandering years

There is a custom among craftsmen known as the ‘walz’ or ‘wandering years’: after completing their apprenticeship, young craftsmen (‘journeymen’) travel on foot for a period of three years and a day, gathering experience and learning new techniques in different locations. The exhibition explains this unique, long-standing tradition in detail. Visitors will also gain insights into the work of swisstopo’s topographers, who travel to survey and verify geographical data on site.

Mountains as an artistic motif

Air, light and landscape continue to inspire visual artists to this day. The exhibition presents a small selection of artists from the Swiss Mountain Painters Guild (GSBM). Discover works by Bernard Bailly, Alice Gafner, Lorenz Huber, Franziska Krauss, Peter Young and Victoria Rechsteiner.

Postcards wanted!

Send us a postcard from your own hike, including details of the location and route, and contribute to the exhibition.

Address: Bibliothek am Guisanplatz BiG, Papiermühlestrasse 21a, 3003 Bern

Events and guided tours

A programme of lectures, panel discussions and other events accompany the exhibition. The dates of events will be published in good time on the library website.

Public and private guided tours are led by Mathias Kobel, exhibition curator and member of the library staff

The public guided tours (in German) will take place on the following dates:

• Wednesday, 10 June 2026, 5.00–5.45 pm
• Thursday, 13 August 2026, 5.00–5.45 pm
• Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 5.00–5.45 pm
• Thursday, 10 December 2026, 5.00–5.45 pm

Please book private guided tours in German or French at least 14 days in advance. For public tours, you can register by emailing bibliothek@gs-vbs.admin.ch no later than one week before the date. The maximum number of participants per group is 12. Meeting point: Library reception at Guisanplatz.

Admission to the exhibition, guided tours and events are all free of charge.

The exhibition runs from 22 May 2026 to 26 November 2027 and is open during library opening hours.

Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm