The “Mongols – A Journey Through Time” Exhibition Opens in Zürich

The “Mongols – A Journey Through Time” exhibition, showcasing over 2,000 years of Mongolian history and culture, will open at the Museum Rietberg Zürich in Zürich, Switzerland, on October 23, 2025.

Organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Mongolia in Geneva, the exhibition aims to present the historical development and urban evolution of Mongolia — from the founding of the Hunnu (Xiongnu) Empire to the height of the Mongol Empire and beyond. It will highlight the long tradition of social, military, and cultural innovation passed down through centuries, including the strategic importance of horses, the engineering of bows and arrows, and the decimal-based military organization that helped shape one of the most powerful empires in world history.

According to the Embassy, the exhibition will run until February 26, 2026.

Cultural and Academic Significance

The exhibition represents one of the most comprehensive presentations of Mongolia’s heritage ever held in Switzerland. It combines archaeological artifacts, historical documents, and multimedia installations to offer visitors a vivid picture of Mongolia’s transformation from nomadic steppe societies to early urban centers and later to a modern nation.

Scholars from the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with German and Swiss researchers, contributed to the curation. Many of the artifacts originate from recent archaeological excavations in Kharakhorum, the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire a UNESCO World Heritage candidate site.

In 2024, Mongolia hosted the acclaimed “Chinggis Khaan: How Mongols Changed the World” exhibition in Ulaanbaatar, drawing international attention to the country’s growing efforts to promote its cultural legacy abroad.

The 7th International Festival of Morin Khuur (Horsehead Fiddle) was held in Ulaanbaatar the same year, celebrating traditional music and craftsmanship that continue to define Mongolia’s identity.

The upcoming Rietberg exhibition also aligns with Mongolia’s broader cultural diplomacy strategy, which includes international partnerships, museum exchanges, and traveling exhibits featuring ancient scripts, textiles, and steppe artifacts.

The Museum Rietberg plans a series of guided tours, public lectures, and educational workshops between November 2025 and February 2026, giving Swiss and international audiences deeper insight into Mongolian art, history, and nomadic culture.