FONDATION PIERRE GIANADDA - MARTIGNY
Romans and Rolls-Royce in the Rhone Valley
The Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny in southern Switzerland where the Rhone River sweeps past the range of Mont Blanc is a sprawling museum of art and culture, with one of the best public historic automobile collections in the country. The museum was founded in 1978 by Swiss engineer and builder Leonard Gianadda in memory of his younger brother Pierre who died following a plane crash. While surveying a site to build a house near the Roman amphitheater in Martingy, Gianadda uncovered an ancient Celtic temple, one of the oldest found in Switzerland, but before the house could be built his brother was killed and he decided to create the foundation instead.
The Fondation Pierre Gianadda hosts a changing series of art exhibits, from Leonardo Da Vinci to an upcoming ode to Modigliani and traveling collection from the Centre Pompidou. The foundation building is impressive for its large open central exhibition space built around the foundations of the temple with a model of its original dimensions on view. Art show presentations are held in coves among the colonnades around the enclosed court. The permanent collections offer works by Miro, Chagall, Renoir, Max Ernst, paintings from classic masters and religious art. Among the permanent exhibitions are the Gallo Roman Museum, Auto Collection and Sculpture Garden.
Gallo Roman Museum
Martigny, located at the foot of the pass over the Alps named for St Bernard was a major center of passage in the Roman Age, along the Roman Route from Roma to Londinium, and just a few miles from Saint Maurice with its abbey dedicated to the martyred Theban legion (see Abbey St Maurice). The Roman section of the museum is built around the remains of the Gallic temple which predates the Romans and presents the major archaeological finds from the area. The collection features coins, pottery, jewelry, weapons and .the famous Great Bronzes of Octodure (notable a bull’s head in cocked hat) which were discovered in 1883, along with some parts of the Treasury Délèze. A short walk on the grounds and beyond leads through the promenade of archealogical finds of the old Roman site with remnants of the thermal baths, sanctuaries of Mithra and the Domus Minerva. Just behind the site is the well preserved 5,000 seat Roman Amphitheater, still used for events after 1800 years.
Automobile Collection
Downstairs in the basement of the museum is the car collection, set up rather like a garage with carpeting on the floor to cushion the tires, with 50 of some of the most beautiful and cars ever made with the oldest, a Benz from 1897 up to 1939 vintage limousines. Among the gleaming automobiles tucked in to the corners are a Stanley Steamer. a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, one of the few remaining Bugatti Royale’s (see Collection Schlumpf Mulhouse), the gloriously elegant Hispano-Suiza and the Delaunay-Belleville which belonged to Czar Nicolas II of Russia. Along the hallways to the collection, you’ll find a number of lithographs depicting Napoleon’s march over the Alps at St Bernard Pass in 1800.
Sculpture Garden
Amoung the shade trees on the grounds is a stroll through the sculpture garden with modern and classic pieces around each bend of the walkway, the bronze of a “Reclining Figure” by Henry Moore as if melted by the sunlight and more realistic “Woman with Sunglasses on BenchWoman with Sunglasses on Bench” by George Segal as if waiting for Forest Gump to sit down to have a conversation. Also look for the giant bronze breast, protruding from the grass as if a reclining mother earth were offering a suckle. Next to the Roman foundations is the outdoor cafeteria with refreshing views of the mountains.
Visiting the Fondation Gianadda
The collections of museum are open daily, 9 am to 7 pm, from June through November and 10 am to 6 pm November to June. Admission for Adults is a 20 CHF, Seniors 18 CHF and Students (under 25) 12 CHF, a Family ticket is 42 CHF. The Fondation is a short walk from the St Bernard Museum and Kennel (see St Bernard Museum). From the main train station take the St Bernard Express one stop to the Martigny-Bourg rail station just behind. If driving through the Grand St Bernard Tunnel from Italy, pay one way and get a free return within 3 days with a receipt from the Fondation. © Bargain Travel Europe
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Fondation Gianadda
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SEE ALSO:
STOCKALPER CASTLE – BAROQUE PALACE OF BRIG
CHATEAU DE VILLA WINE TRAIL -SIERRE
MONTENVERS RACK RAILWAY - CHAMONIX
CHATEAU SAINT MAURICE ON THE RHONE
