Museum für medizinhistorische Bücher Muri

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Museum für medizinhistorische Bücher Muri

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“A fascinating journey through time”

The broad spectrum of books on display ranges from 1480 to 1800 and includes magnificent anatomical volumes, herbal books and natural history encyclopaedias. Recipes for the production of remedies and instructions for surgical procedures are just as much part of the natural knowledge of the time as unicorns or dragons. The interactive touchscreens allow visitors, regardless of their previous knowledge, to actively browse through the works and make their own discoveries. The current special exhibition "Growth, Herbals in the Renaissance" sheds light on the enormous development that took place thanks to the possibilities of book printing.

21/10/2026

We are excited to announce the opening of our new exhibition on Beastly Creatures.

Opening celebration, 29th October 2026, from 18h

Four centuries, six authors and many a wondrous being. A 15th-century encyclopaedia allows you to pick from
20 illustrations to get an overview of what beastly animals were populating our planet since antiquity.
The 16th century sees a naturalist laying the foundation to modern zoology and a surgeon using his skillset to send ripples through the medical world. A moralist revelling in fearful myths covers the 17th century.
And finally in the 18th century, a Swiss explores dragons and caves and a pastor is chasing shadows.
Curious?

16/10/2026

We are busy…

Getting ready for the new special exhibition about beastly creatures. The museum remains closed until 30rd October.

Reopening celebration on 29th October 2026, from 6pm.

Chapter 57, de lapidibus
ORTUS SANITATIS DE HERBIS ET PLANTIS
ANONYMOUS
1497

09/10/2026

Last days of Growth.
Our exhibition about herbals is coming to an end, with Sunday being the final opening day.
The museum will remain closed until 30th October 2026 while we install our upcoming exhibition, Beastly Creatures. Get ready!

Photos by Patrick Patrick Frank – thank you, Patrick!

25/09/2026

“Dandelion is so very common, that a plot of ground can scarcely be seen where it does not present its yellow flowers.” William Woodville

Leontodon Taraxacum
William Woodville (1752-1805)
Medical Botany Band 1
First Edition, 1790
Illustrations by James Sowerby (1757-1822)

18/09/2026

Enjoy a snap of a couple of flying fish to start the weekend.

GOTTLIEB TOBIAS WILHELM, UNTERHALTUNGEN AUS DER
NATURGESCHICHTE, ÜBER DIE FISCHE, PLATE ###VI
AUGSBURG 1799

11/09/2026

On show

Leonhart Fuchs believed in the superiority of the Greek sources. But he, too, emphasised the need for constant observation. In order to avoid misunderstandings, he had illustrations drawn that left no room for interpretation. Each plant had to be depicted completely and perfectly. At the end of the book, there is an image that shows the team responsible for creating the “absolute image“, as Fuchs called it. Such esteem for the artists was very uncommon for the time.

«Welsch Hirs”
LEONHART FUCHS Plate CC###
NEW KREUTERBUCH (HERBAL)
1543

woodcut

04/09/2026

September Picnic or important antidote?

The illustration shows a snake and someone sitting at the table. The person is actually busy preparing Theriac, which is an important mix of medical ingredients used for many potions. The flesh of the snake tyrus, a viper, is used to make up this concoction and also its name, the text informs us.

The woodcuts of this incunabula (meaning when book printing began in Europe around before 1500) are reduced to clear shapes. The texts give an insight to the view of nature and medical culture in the Middle Ages.

PLATE CXLVI
ORTUS SANITATIS DE HERBIS ET PLANTIS
ANONYMOUS
1497

28/08/2026

It seems quite clear that this is either the Eryngium maritimum or the Eryngium campestre – named Ringio here… it could be a Venetian local naming?

Which one are you going for – maritime or field? Or neither?

Plate 24
“Ringio” (Eryngium ?)
Venetian Manuscript
Ca 1500

21/08/2026

Sorting beastly creatures…
for the next special exhibition. Be prepared…
Conrad Gessner (1516-1565) and his “fish book” will feature…

Gessner became famous through his natural history and linguistic works, but primarily through his animal books, the „Historia animalium“. His aim was to capture the „immeasurable realm of creation“ as completely as possible in word and image with this multi-volume work.

Page 40
CONRAD GESSNER
NOMENCLATOR AQUATILIUM ANIMANTIUM
1560

14/08/2026

Summer time! And hot! Seems looking at posts over the years it is always when it is hot that I try and find another dragonfly to post…it seems the cool colours and knowing they can be found near water make me think of a nice swim.

“Discourses on Natural History”, all in all 25 Volumes, comprise texts with the accompaniment of a wealth of copperplates. The pastor G.T. Wilhelm (1758-1811) collected the latest literature of Natural History findings and then conveyed those in an objective yet entertaining way.

In the spirit of the Enlightenment, Wilhelm turns against superstition, calls for respect towards other cultures and wishes for a careful handling of animals and plants.

GOTTLIEB TOBIAS WILHELM, UNTERHALTUNGEN AUS DER
NATURGESCHICHTE, ÜBER DIE INSECTEN ZWEITER THEIL, PLATE IV,
AUGSBURG 1799

Adresse

Marktstrasse 4
Muri
5630

Telefon

+41566647011

Website

http://mmbm.ch/

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