kriSTALL Guttannen

kriSTALL opens a window into the fascinating world of crystal. In the smallest of spaces, housed in a well-preserved barn in Guttannen, you will embark on a magical journey through the treasures of the Grimsel massif and the people who have dedicated their lives to these gems. The history of crystal mining in Guttannen is not only one of splendour – it is also one of suffering, courage and tireless searching. At the heart of the kriSTALL experience is the extraordinary collection belonging to the Rufibach family, generations of which went up into the mountains and displayed hard work, passion and unwavering dedication in search of the light within the stone. kriSTALL brings to life the eventful history of this family – and an entire valley. Sparkling, unique crystals, light installations, video profiles and interactive stations revive the past, leading visitors to a place where the power of rock meets the power of storytelling.

kriSTALL has intentionally not been designed as a traditional exhibition. There are no lengthy texts here, no dry explanations. Instead, there is poetry and sound, light and shadow. Stories are told through images, through sounds. You learn how crystals are formed. How mining in Guttannen once triggered a gold rush. How envy, misfortune and the forces of nature shaped the village. And how a family, the Rufibachs, gained a new piece of their identity with every rock face and every find – right up to the tragedy that changed everything in 1971. kriSTALL brings these stories to life. Visitors learn about emotional fortunes, soak up the spirit of centuries-old tradition and experience how beauty, risk and history merge in glittering stones.

The experience is as unique as the stones themselves. The idea behind it is that of Otto Steiner, whose museum designs are intended to move visitors. This is exactly what kriSTALL does: you will leave a different person than when you entered it. It illuminates, it chimes, it brings the mountain to life.