Basel Historical Museum – Barfüsserkirche
Basel-Stadt
The Basel Historical Museum, housed primarily in the Barfüsserkirche, a former Franciscan church dating back to the 13th century, is one of Switzerland's most significant cultural history museums. The church was repurposed during the Protestant Reformation and later renovated between 1890 and 1894 to serve as the museum's main building. The museum's extensive exhibition spans 6,200 square meters and covers handicrafts, everyday culture, and ecclesiastical art from the late Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the Baroque period. Highlights include the treasury of Basel Cathedral, Basel and Strasbourg tapestries, fragments of Basel’s dance of death, altars, graphic works, and the estate of Erasmus of Rotterdam. The museum also preserves historic cabinets of curiosities such as the Amerbach and Faesch cabinets, reflecting Basel's rich collecting tradition. The Barfüsserkirche's architecture, with its late Gothic choir featuring stained glass and a reconstructed rood screen, offers a striking historical setting for the exhibits. The museum is managed by the canton of Basel-City and forms part of a larger complex including the Haus zum Kirschgarten and the Musikmuseum. Visitors can explore the cultural heritage of the Upper Rhine region in a unique medieval church setting, combining history, art, and architecture.
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Tip: Visit during weekdays or outside major Swiss holidays to avoid crowds. Booking tickets online in advance is recommended for special exhibitions. The museum occasionally offers free admission days, such as the 'Tag des Schatzes' event. Check the official website for guided tours and special programs that enhance understanding of Basel's history and artifacts.
Interesting facts
- •In 1975, a mummified woman named Anna Catharina Bischoff was discovered in a brick-walled grave chamber beneath the Barfüsserkirche; she is an ancestor of Boris Johnson.
- •The Barfüsserkirche's choir is renowned for its height and dense arrangement of stained-glass windows, considered one of the Upper Rhine's most impressive spaces.
- •The museum houses the Amerbach and Faesch cabinets, historic collections of curiosities from the 16th and 17th centuries.
- •The Barfüsserkirche was nearly demolished in 1882 but was preserved by a narrow vote in Basel's Great Council.
- •The museum's collection includes the Basel Cathedral treasury and fragments of the Basel Dance of Death, a significant medieval cultural artifact.
History
The Barfüsserkirche originated as a Franciscan monastery church built between 1253 and 1256, replacing an earlier church destroyed by fire in 1298.
During the Protestant Reformation in 1529, the church was secularized and repurposed for civic uses including a hospital and warehouse.
By the late 19th century, the church was renovated to become the Basel Historical Museum, opening in 1894.
Significant restorations in the 1970s addressed damage caused by prior uses and salt deposits, including reconstructing the original rood screen and removing later structural additions.
The museum's collections trace back to the 16th century, originating from the Amerbach family's Wunderkammer, acquired by the city in 1661 and made public in 1671.
Place Guide
Barfüsserkirche Choir14th century
The late Gothic choir features tall, dense stained-glass windows and a reconstructed rood screen, exemplifying Upper Rhine ecclesiastical architecture and providing a dramatic setting for the museum's religious art collections.
Amerbach Cabinet16th century
A historic cabinet of curiosities from the 16th century, showcasing a variety of artifacts collected by the Amerbach family, foundational to the museum's collection.
Basel Cathedral Treasury
A collection of ecclesiastical treasures from Basel Cathedral, including liturgical objects and artworks from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Basel and Strasbourg TapestriesLate Middle Ages to Renaissance
These tapestries depict medieval and Renaissance scenes and are key highlights illustrating the region's artistic heritage.
Contact
Phone: 061 205 86 00
