A walk into the wooded unknowns leads you beyond a thick copse of firs and ornamental pines to open out into a small landscaped perimeter ringing the centerpiece. Built of hunks of individually smoothened stone and smooth stone arches, the Villa Wesendonck sits as the crown jewel, making the clear statement of simplicity that represents the old wing of the Rietberg.

Throughout Switzerland, the Rietberg is well known for being the only museum specializing exclusively in the archiving of Non-European Cultures. It is a proud display and a mini diaspora of worldly traditions revealed to the public. Ancient depictions of frightening deities cast in stone go alongside frightening wood carved masks to strike a stroke a hint of fear in those opposing. Rotating exhibitions delve deeper, going beyond what avails visitors at the permanent exhibitions to explore geoglyphs, such as the Nascan Lines, of hardly conceivable proportions. The Smargard or The Emerald is a greenhouse nurturing seeds of artistic and cultural appreciation, its green glass exteriors exuding the melding of old and new within the museum. Lacquered wooden masks and Buddhas illustrated on steeles from as early as the 6th or 7th Century are illuminated against the rest of the dim room within their subterranean enclave at The Emerald. For a more hands on experience, walk over to the Crafts Studio where children will be led by guides to create their own mini milestone, taking a piece of the world with them. A vibrant and moving display, the Rietberg is a glittering example of how you can celebrate the differences and trends between communities separated by seas and language.