Today: Opening of the 2026 Exhibition
The official opening of the 2026 special exhibition, ‘Crack the Nut – the finest pieces from the world’s largest nutcracker collection’, will take place at the museum today at 4.00 pm – a wa...
18 April, 2026
The Swiss Woodcarving Museum is located in the heart of Brienz. It is the heart and soul of the woodcarving village, the national centre for woodcarving. Meet the faces and stories of fascinating works and inspiring artists. Ideal for group events, company outings, family programmes and real quality time.
Wood is real . Wood is alive . Wood feels like home .
Contact
Schweizer Holzbildhauerei Museum
Hauptstrasse 111
Postfach 592
CH-3855 Brienz
+41 33 952 13 17
Opening Hours
02.05 – 31.05.2026
We – Su: 13.30 – 17.00 h
01.06. – 30.09.2026
We – Su: 10.30 – 17.00 h
01.10 – 25.10.2026
We – Su: 13.30 – 17.00 h
Admission Fees
Adults: CHF 8.00
Children: free
Tours for groups: CHF 50.00, flat rate, plus admission CHF 8.00 per person
News & Inspiration
How does a piece of wood become a work of art? Which thoughts lead to which figures? Cherry, oak or olive? How does the next generation work? Where are forgotten wood sculpture gems hidden? Why do the most important aspects of wood sculpture come together in Brienz?
The countdown is on …
CRACK THE NUT … our special exhibition this year, alongside our ever-fascinating permanent exhibition, is just waiting to be discovered! Just a few days to go until the opening on 18 April ̷...
15 April, 2026
Interactive Special Exhibition 2026
The gems from the world’s largest collection of nutcrackers can be experienced in a unique way through our interactive displays. Where do the nuts for the nutcracker come from? What can you do with ...
10 April, 2026
Happy Easter
… Spring is finally here and we’re getting more and more excited about reopening our museum soon! … But first, we hope you have a wonderful Easter with lots of funny bunnies and colourfu...
03 April, 2026
It looks so real…
…absolutely, but it’s made of real wood! Crafting something like this requires the utmost concentration and exceptional craftsmanship – just like Meret Hanako Schulenburg’s work… so ...
01 April, 2026
Meret Hanako Schulenburg – beyond words
These works are fascinating. You can’t help but look and marvel. Is the banana real? Is the wooden head about to open its eyes? Skill and passion come together here to create a wonderful picture....
27 March, 2026
Today: World Wood Day – we love wood too!
In woodcarving, wood takes on its most beautiful form! With boundless creativity, the most beautiful works of art can be created from different types of wood… Warm – beautiful – sustainable!...
21 March, 2026
Want to organise an exciting team event in spring?
Need a heart-warming programme where you can get hands-on and bring your team closer together? Carve wooden cows, marvel at works of art, look over the shoulders of masters and enjoy a hearty mountain...
06 March, 2026
Anita Peter – Form and Structure
Enchanting animals and exquisite natural forms characterise Anita Peter’s work. After completing her education at the Schnätzi in Brienz, Anita Peter frequently travels internationally, allowin...
28 February, 2026
Do you know the difference?
between Swiss nutcrackers and German nutcrackers? Everyone knows the colourful German ones, but are you familiar with the real rarities among the practical Swiss nutcrackers? There are some real maste...
20 February, 2026
Crack the nut!
Nuts are healthy! Nutcrackers are essential for getting the delicate “fruit” out of the hard shells… Starting in May, we will be showing you loads of particularly magnificent examples in our...
13 February, 2026
Remo Meier – wood is my creative element
When a great passion can be lived out… ‘When searching for form, I forget everything around me. Concentration allows me to immerse myself deeply in my work.’...
09 February, 2026
Are you following us on TikTok?
TikTok entertains, informs and provides exciting insights… Our colleague Lena regularly shows you the treasures that can be admired in the museum. From yesterday, the day before yesterday, today...
02 February, 2026
Philipp Dräyer – where skills meet passion
‘Der scharfe Hund’ (The Hot Dog) – one of his impressive works. As a specialist teacher, member of the foundation board and committed representative of wood sculpture, he is dedicated to the woo...
23 January, 2026
Wood carving – a profession full of creativity and passion
Working with (warming) wood every day – giving free rein to your boundless creativity – working with pinpoint precision – seeing and touching the results – following your passion. That’s...
16 January, 2026
Coming soon: Special exhibition 2026
Crack the nut! What do Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and other famous figures have to do with walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts? Find out more at our exclusive special exhibition, opening on 3 Ma...
09 January, 2026
Exciting artist portraits awaiting you in the new year
Take a look at wood sculptors’ nimble hands and behind their works… get to know the people behind the ideas… that’s what we’ll be doing in the new year with our camera te...
12 December, 2025
Sweeter the violins never sound …
Although bells are at the heart of this popular Christmas song, the same applies to violins during the holiday season, of course especially when they come from the Swiss School of violin-making Brienz...
05 December, 2025
Doves of peace at the Swiss woodcarving school
At the ‘Schnätzi’ (Swiss Woodcarving School, Brienz), the doves of peace are flying! The world needs more of them! Thirty-four wooden doves of peace have returned to Brienz from Canada....
28 November, 2025
We are a BLS Seepass/lake pass partner
With the Seepass (on sale since 11 November for 2026), you not only get free travel on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, but also a discount at our museum. Travelling across Lake Brienz guarantees a relaxed ...
21 November, 2025
Carving a wooden cow?
That is so much fun and also possible during our winter season when the museum is closed… on request and for smaller (with family and friends) or larger groups – just give us a call! We look f...
14 November, 2025
How does the museum promote itself?
Partnerships are key, an online presence is essential, good offers are a must… and we are always on the lookout for new opportunities. We are pursuing a hybrid strategy and are starting the off-...
01 November, 2025
Closing for the season – thank you for coming and your collaboration
Today is the last day of our 2025 museum season – THANK YOU VERY MUCH for visiting us! Although we are closing our doors, we remain open on request for groups and special events throughout the year!...
26 October, 2025
Great for families, brilliant for art lovers
A varied programme for family outings or as soul food for art lovers – the Swiss Woodcarving Museum is a gem and a wonderful showcase for the finest craftsmanship and arts and crafts....
18 October, 2025
Soon final days of our special exhibition 2025
Take this opportunity to discover the impressive and unique works of Urs-P. Twellmann! What he enjoys making from old or storm-damaged wood is truly amazing… See you soon at our museum? 😉...
10 October, 2025
The right tools are crucial
Working with wood requires not only a great deal of talent and skill, but also the right tools to achieve the desired shape. Rasps, triangular files, flat files, needle files, cabinet files—a wide r...
02 October, 2025
Humour in woodcarving
Does fun boost creativity? It seems quite possible, doesn’t it? In any case, laughter helps with motivation at work; no study is needed to prove that. We can see it in works like this 😉...
25 September, 2025
Hiking and wood carving? A great combination!
Take a trip to the Axalp Woodcarving Trail! As you hike through beautiful landscapes, there is so much magnificent wood carving art to discover. Young and old alike will have fun here and completely f...
18 September, 2025
So rich in tradition and wonderful stories
We love to look back and imagine what it must have been like in 1851 to travel to London with 10 wood carvers from Brienz to present their works at the World Exhibition… by horse and cart? By ro...
05 September, 2025
The Twellmann works are captivating! Have you seen them yet…?
Our special exhibition in 2025 is something else! … What land art artist Urs-P. Twellmann can conjure up with his chainsaw is almost unbelievable—these shapes, carved directly from wood that i...
31 August, 2025
Fun for and with the little ones?
Whether carving and painting in our open workshop or going on a voyage of discovery in our discovery workshop with everything to do with walnut, oak and lime trees – these proud trees with the very ...
28 August, 2025
Come to the workshop!
Design it yourself, be creative, paint it beautifully – and then take home a very personal souvenir with sentimental value! … or bring it to your loved ones 🙂 It’s easy to do in our w...
15 August, 2025
Guests from all over the world
Wood carving fascinates people in many cultures and countries. We are always delighted to welcome guests from all over the world, whether from Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, South Ameri...
08 August, 2025
August 1 – Swiss National Day
A long weekend awaits us. We celebrate our beautiful country with the national holiday on August 1 – come visit us and get to know Swiss cultural heritage and the finest craftsmanship! We look forwa...
30 July, 2025
For children too? Of course! And it’s free…
It’s not just the wooden cows that delight the little ones, but also the dog family, the bears, the dog on chili and other animal figures. And the large music chalet with dancing couples. Childr...
19 July, 2025
Summer holidays – soak up some culture!
Do something for your heart and soul… beautiful shapes… warm colours… fascinating craftsmanship… living art… wood carving is shown in all its diversity at our museum. Our...
17 July, 2025
Come and see us at the Symposium!
The international wood sculptors are at work … the sun is shining … the mood is right! Are you coming too? today and tomorrow a great programme awaits you, right by the lake!...
04 July, 2025
Free guided tours during the Woodcarving Symposium
We invite all visitors to the International Woodcarving Symposium, 1-5 July, to a free guided tour of the museum! After visiting the works on the lakeshore, take the opportunity to view the masterpiec...
26 June, 2025
Coming soon: International Woodcarving Symposium 2025 🙂
From Tuesday, 1 July till Saturday, 5 July, you can once again watch top international wood sculptors create new works on the beautiful Brienz Quay, directly on Lake Brienz! This is unique, don’...
20 June, 2025
International visitors
Woodcarving is world-famous! The museum regularly welcomes guests from all over the world to Brienz – interested groups from the USA, Korea, India and many other destinations. How about cow carv...
13 June, 2025
Elias Wick – young wood sculptor
Carving is a matter close to the heart of this qualified wood sculptor. After a solid education at the Swiss Woodcarving School in Brienz, he now works in Toggenburg. This is what successful young tal...
07 June, 2025
Brienz – Lake Brienz – Woodcarving Village – Swiss Woodcarving Museum
That sounds like a good plan for today’s splendid day or for the weekend. Brienz, the pretty woodcarving village, is not only beautifully situated, it also invites you to spend an eventful day w...
30 May, 2025
On holiday? or just here for a day?
When public holidays shorten the working week or when you’re off anyway, you need ideas for wonderful excursions – how about the Schnitzlerdorf Brienz and then a visit to our museum? There...
25 May, 2025
Art in Nature by Urs-P. Twellmann
“Here I work with materials that I can find on site in nature – especially with “destroyed” or damaged wood. Even then, it turns out that I can’t improve on anything that...
18 May, 2025