After the final day of the exhibition A Dream of Poland on 9 November 2025, the Fondation de l’Hermitage will be closed to the public until autumn 2027 for major renovation works. Carried out by the City of Lausanne, which owns the property, and with considerable financial support from the Fondation de l’Hermitage, these works will make our historic building more energy efficient and will adapt its interior spaces to meet the needs of a contemporary museum. They are indispensable in order to prepare the museum for the future and provide the best possible conditions for our visitors.
During this time, the education team have developed a rich programme of external activities, soon to be unveiled, that will take place at cultural events or be hosted by partner institutions and will provide an opportunity to develop new partnerships, attract new audiences and extend the museum’s reach while it is closed.
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The press release of 9 October is available for download on the Press page.
The Fondation de l’Hermitage is housed in a magnificent villa built in the mid-19th century. In 1976 the Bugnion family bequeathed the house and much of its surrounding grounds to the City of Lausanne, which undertook to transform and maintain the building as a museum. The Fondation de l’Hermitage opened in 1984, since when its exhibitions have received nearly 3.5 million visitors. Over its 40 years of existence, the museum has become one of Switzerland’s most important cultural landmarks.
The last time the historic house saw major works was in the 1980s. Despite regular maintenance by the City of Lausanne, the building now needs extensive renovation to preserve its important heritage aspects while continuing to serve as a public museum. The entire exterior requires restoration, while the interior spaces and security arrangements need upgrading to reflect current standards.
Alongside the renovations financed by the City of Lausanne, the Fondation de l’Hermitage will fully fund additional works and alterations to update all the equipment used for displays, to improve accessibility and enhance the visitor experience. These upgrades are crucial if we are to continue presenting high-quality exhibitions. To make them happen the Fondation is launching a major fundraising campaign among public and private institutions.
The entire renovation and refurbishment project has been designed to preserve the heritage and architectural importance of the Hermitage. The building and its grounds are listed as Swiss cultural property of national significance, classified in note 2 of the architectural inventory of the Canton of Vaud.
It is vital for the Fondation de l’Hermitage to maintain the rich and solid connection it has forged with its visitors, partners and sponsors since it opened over 40 years ago. This means not only keeping them informed about the progress of the works, but also offering new initiatives while the museum is closed. To this end the education team have developed a rich programme of external activities that will take place at cultural events or be hosted by partner institutions. Soon to be unveiled, these activities will provide an opportunity to develop new partnerships, attract new audiences and extend the museum’s reach while it is closed.
The conservation team will use this period to work with the Fondation’s collections through restoration, loans and in-depth research.
Of course, central to the work of all our departments are the exhibitions to be hosted when the Fondation re-opens. Preparations for these are already underway and late 2027 will see us once again inviting visitors to enjoy entirely new and prestigious exhibitions in a sublime setting.
Owner:
City of Lausanne
Department of Housing, the Environment and Architecture
Contracting Authority:
City of Lausanne
Department of Culture and Urban Development
Management:
City of Lausanne
Office of Architecture and Housing
Operator:
Fondation de l’Hermitage
Édouard Bugnion, Chair of the Board, Fondation de l’Hermitage
ebugnion@fondation-hermitage.ch
Sylvie Wuhrmann, Director, Fondation de l’Hermitage
swuhrmann@fondation-hermitage.ch
Architect:
AAPA (Atelier Aeby Perneger & Associés)
aapa.ch
Supporting the Fondation de l’Hermitage during its renovation means standing by the Hermitage team as it accompanies the works alongside the architects, manages the collections, and prepares the reopening exhibition.
It means ensuring the continuity of the institution throughout this major transformation, so that it can continue to present outstanding artworks and exhibitions while guaranteeing accessibility and safety for visitors in the decades to come.
It also means associating your image with a meaningful cultural institution whose influence extends well beyond borders.
Contact
Sophie Hautier, administratrice
shautier@fondation-hermitage.ch
+41 21 342 50 71
Final day of the exhibition A Dream of Poland, 100 masterpieces from the National Museum in Warsaw
The Fondation is now closed to the public. Preparations for the works begin, including moving the offices, library, archives and art collections.
Installation of the construction site perimeter, dismantling, and demolition work around and inside the building
