Probably every boy in childhood plays in the war, shoots from an imaginary pistol or gun, inflicts invisible injuries to his rivals. War frightens people, but the firearm itself enchants and beckons many of us. The Swiss Rifle Museum, located in Bern, allows every visitor to go to a world far from war, but allows you to touch the history of weapons, see the most incredible forms of it and even try yourself as an arrow in a museum shooting gallery.

During the Federal Championship on shooting from a rifle, which was held in Bern on November 14, 1885, the organizing committee decided to establish the so-called "Rifle Chamber". Its purpose was to collect and display shooting trophies, saving them for posterity, as well as everything related to sports shooting: ammunition, awards, commemorative coins, models, educational literature, etc. His collection includes exhibits from the foundation of the National Rifle Society in 1824 the

Shooting Chamber moved several times until in 1939 it was moved to a new building in which it is still located. Since 1914, it was renamed the Swiss Rifle Museum. In the late 20 - early 21 centuries. Inside the building there was an internal and external restoration.

The main task of the Swiss Rifle Museum is to tell about the history of small arms in Switzerland, as well as replenish collections and keep in order exhibits: weapons, shells, commemorative coins from the shooting championships, medals, cups, documents containing the results of the championships, shooting programs and rules, models , literature and much more.

The entrance hall of the museum is decorated with frescoes (murals) by Friedrich Traffeleth, an artist who was engaged in decorating the building from the outside. On the main staircase are exhibits, along which you can trace the development of weapons, starting with a conventional bow and ending with a crossbow, from a simple pistol to a modern assault rifle. Many of the latter were used by citizens during the shooting championships.

In the Hall of Fame on the ground floor there is a collection of personal trophies by Konrad Shtekeli, the multiple prize-winner of the Olympic Games, who won the World Shooting Championship 24 times. His achievements in the art of shooting to this day are not surpassed by anyone, not even Marcel Buerg - the second central figure of the exposition. On the inset you can see the full-size dummies of the champions in full ammunition and weapons.

Moreover, here in special glazed offices, the most valuable weapons in the museum are exhibited: artfully encrusted with bone and deer horns muskets, the oldest of which dates back to 1564. ; amazing works of Bernese arms masters of the 18th century - Franz Ulrich and Christian Schenck

One of the most significant exhibits on the ground floor of the museum is a large silver trophy, which the Dutch King William III presented to the commissions of the Federal Championships for shooting a rifle in Lausanne in 1876. To create a trophy weighing more than 26 pounds, four masters left the whole year.

Here is also a collection of pocket watches belonging to arrows. Among them, a gold watch in 1836, created specifically for the presentation at the championship of that year in Lausanne. This outstanding specimen is the very first and finest work of the watchmakers from La Chaux-de-Fonds: their arms are engraved with the coats of arms of the Swiss cantons and the scene depicting the famous shooting of William Tell by apple.

How to get and opening hours

Swiss the Rifle Museum is located at Kirchenfeld, 3005 Bern, Switzerland Tel: +41 31 351 01 27 Website: http: //www.schuetzenmuseum.ch

To get to the museum is most convenient from the railway station by tram No. 6, 7 or 8 to the stop Helvetiaplatz, or walk through Marktgasse and the Kirchenfeld bridge towards Helvetiaplatz. If you are traveling by car, then you need to go on the A1 or A6 motorway, exit to Thunplatz, then to the right to Aegertenstrasse and to the Monbijou bridge. Near the museum there is paid parking.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 14:00 to 17:00, on Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. Monday is a day off. The museum is also closed for Easter, Trinity, Ascension, Christmas and New Year. Free admission.