Deep within the Grimsel granite massif, they slumber: sparkling, glittering treasures that have been shaped by nature over millions of years during the formation of the Alpine mountain landscape. The crystal deposits of the Grimsel are world-famous – the granite massif is a paradise for ‘Strahler’, or miners, and crystal enthusiasts.

Over 300 years ago, in the autumn of 1719, miners discovered an incredibly rich cleft in the Grimsel area. It is said that the find was the largest and most beautiful that Switzerland has ever seen. In the same place – on the Zinggenstock mountain – brothers Ernst and Hans Rufibach from Guttannen discovered another large cleft in the early 1960s and spent years mining it. Since 1975, the most beautiful pieces from this mighty mineral layer, plus other finds made by the two miners, have been on display in the private museum of the Rufibach family. Unfortunately, it has been closed for several years.

The kriSTALL project is now taking on the collection: the unique experience will open a window into the fascinating world beneath our feet. kriSTALL is more than a museum – it is a magical journey through the treasures of the Grimsel massif and the people who have dedicated their lives to these gems. The history of crystal mining in Guttannen is not only one of splendour – it is also one of suffering, courage and tireless searching. At the heart of the kriSTALL experience is the extraordinary collection belonging to the Rufibach family, generations of which went up into the mountains and displayed hard work, passion and unwavering dedication in search of the light within the stone.

In the converted Weibel Schiir barn on the grounds of the Hotel Bären in Guttannen, the eventful history of this family is brought to life – and with it the history of an entire valley. Sparkling, unique crystals, light installations, video profiles and interactive stations revive the past in shimmering splendour and lead visitors to a place where the power of rock meets the power of storytelling.

kriSTALL Guttannen will be open to visitors in spring 2026. On this page, you can find out more about the project and the people behind it, and you will have the opportunity to support the kriSTALL association.

Magical, quiet, impressive: Immerse yourself in the crystal cosmos of Guttannen.

An old barn becomes the gateway to another world. In Guttannen, kriSTALL creates an experience that takes visitors deep inside the mountains – where crystals have grown in dark fissures for millions of years.

When you enter the Weibel Schiir, you lose all sense of space and time. The scent of wood, celestial sounds, shimmering light. Crystals grow out of the ground, glow under glass, appear and disappear again to the rhythm of light and sound – as if you were in a secret cave. It is an experience that touches all the senses – magical, quiet, impressive.

kriSTALL has intentionally not been designed as a traditional exhibition. There are no lengthy texts here, no dry explanations. Instead, there is poetry and sound, light and shadow. Stories are told through images, through sounds. You learn how crystals are formed. How mining in Guttannen once triggered a gold rush. How envy, misfortune and the forces of nature shaped the village. And how a family, the Rufibachs, gained a new piece of their identity with every rock face and every find – right up to the tragedy that changed everything in 1971. kriSTALL brings these stories to life. Visitors learn about emotional fortunes, soak up the spirit of centuries-old tradition and experience how beauty, risk and history merge in glittering stones.

The experience is as unique as the stones themselves. The idea behind it is that of Otto Steiner, whose museum designs are intended to move visitors. This is exactly what kriSTALL does: you will leave a different person than when you entered it. It illuminates, it chimes, it brings the mountain to life.

kriSTALL is more than a museum. It is an immersive attraction for families, groups, school classes and anyone who wants to be moved by the magic of the mountains. It is a place that shows the almost inseparable intertwining of history, nature and magic.