Welcome to the Swiss Mule Museum
The Swiss Mule Museum is a rarity. There are very few functioning museums in the world that deal explicitly with mules and hinnies and their cultural value.
For centuries, mules were indispensable for transporting goods throughout the Alpine region, including in Switzerland and especially in the Canton Valais, until the middle of the last century. With technical progress and the development of remote regions since the middle of the last century, they have been almost completely displaced from our everyday lives and forgotten. In many regions of the world, however, they are still used today for vital transport tasks. Many people are unaware of this.
We have set ourselves the task of preserving knowledge about the past, present and future of these animals. We maintain a small Mule Museum in a stable barn, which has been placed under protection, in the Valais Mountain village of Törbel.
Our museum is also a guest in other museums with seasonal or permanent exhibitions. A permanent exhibition at the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum tells the story of the muleteers. Some exhibits are well presented in the National Museum San Gotthardo. Integrated into the Loveland Longears Museum on the Lucky Three Ranch in Colorado, Meredith Hodges has dedicated part of her exhibition to Swiss mules.
The collection of the Swiss Mule Museum Foundation with currently over 1000 museum objects can be visited in the VWM database. The extensive media archive with over 3000 titles in various languages complements our collection.
The foundation is a member of the Association of Swiss Museums and the Association of Museums of the Valais. Our museum in Törbel has been included in the cultural treasure map of Pro Patria – we are proud to be part of this marvellous diversity!!
Neue Gönnerzeitschrift MAULTIER BOTE – Ausstellung im Militärmuseum St. Luzisteig GR – Feier Gedenkstein für Maultier «Wolf» auf dem Schwyberg FR – 13. Walliser Maultiertage – Teilnahme an den «Assises du Mulet» in Contamines-Montjoie F – Teilnahme am Püru-Märt in Turtmann VS
