This summer 2026, San Bernardino is set to become a hub for art and history with a special exhibition marking the 36th anniversary of Casa Hassler, one of the city’s most iconic cultural venues. The grand opening is on Saturday 24 January 2026 at 21:00, launching a week-long exhibition of art and architecture. Best of all, entry to all events is free.
After the opening night, you can catch the artworks on display at Casa Hassler from Monday to Saturday, between 8:00 and 15:00, until January 31, 2026. Both residents and visitors can explore the exhibition at their leisure during the week. On 7 February 2026, the exhibition continues at Casa Buttner, open to visitors from 9:00 to 19:00.
International artists in dialogue
The exhibition brings together international artists, showcasing mostly oil paintings with select acrylic works. The artists taking part include Alicia Fernández, Carmen Teresa Villalba, Clara Alegre, Fátima Rivarola, Jazmín Martínez, María Eugenia Yegros, Marian Peña, Mila Montiel, Susana Kriskovich, and Wence Silvero from Paraguay, as well as José Luis “Koqui” Handal from Bolivia and Pheline Dietrich from Germany. Their art will be displayed in two historic locations that are deeply connected to San Bernardino’s cultural heritage.
Casa Hassler: Science, memory and cultural Life
Casa Hassler, which sits near the shores of Lake Ypacaraí, was once the home of Swiss scientist Dr. Emile Hassler, who came to Paraguay in 1883 and dedicated himself to studying the local flora. He documented over eight thousand plant specimens and produced several botanical works, leaving a lasting legacy until 1937.
Years later, Hassler’s former home was renovated and turned into a cultural symbol. Casa Hassler has housed the Historical Museum of San Bernardino since 26 January 1990. The museum preserves items, furniture, tools, and photographs from the German immigrants who founded the city on August 24, 1881. It boasts a collection of over five hundred pieces donated by families like the Petzoldts, Richters, Schulzes, Weilers, Banzhafs, and Ingenhols. The museum displays utensils, farm tools, medical instruments, music pieces, typewriters, and furniture, reflecting early colonial life.
Casa Buttner and the foundations of a town
The exhibition will eventually head to Casa Buttner, another historic site closely tied to San Bernardino’s development. Instrumental to the town’s development, the Buttners established its first carpentry workshop, bus service, car, and ice factory. They managed the town’s electricity from 1922, and their home served as the telephone exchange in 1930.
The Buttner workshop, famous for its exceptional carpentry, produced furniture and instruments of such high quality that they were exported beyond the borders. Today, the historic Casona Buttner, still in the family’s hands, hosts a municipal library and spaces for artisanal goods. Situated on Nuestra Señora de la Asunción street, it offers visitors insight into the history and identity of San Bernardino and Cordillera.
Honouring the past, inspiring the present
San Bernardino’s cultural spaces, such as Casa Hassler and Casa Buttner, thrive thanks to those who moved to Paraguay in search of a better life. These settlers intertwined their stories with the land, creating a lively place where art, heritage and creativity flourish. Today, they share this rich blend of traditions openly with visitors, offering a unique space where contemporary expression meets historical roots in the centre of the summer city.
