Basel Historical Museum, Basel, Switzerland

Opened in 1894, the Basel Historical Museum is one of the largest and most important museums of its kind in Switzerland. The museum is divided into four sections (buildings), three of which are within the city of Basel. These are Barfüsserkirche, Haus zum Kirschgarten and the Musikmuseum. The fourth section, the Coach and Carriage Museum lies slightly outside Basel, in the neighbouring town of Münchenstein.

The main part of the museum is located in the Barfüsserkirche in the centre of Basel. The museum houses the Upper Rhine’s most comprehensive cultural history collection and the display area covers 6,200 square meters. The exhibition presents objects documenting handicraft traditions and everyday culture from ages past. Its focus is on the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance up to the Baroque period.

Leading highlights include: the Basel Cathedral treasure, the Basel and Strasbourg tapestries, the fragments of Basel’s dance of death, altars and ecclesiastical graphic works, the estate of Erasmus of Rotterdam, the coin cabinet and glass painting. The museum also preserves old cabinets of curiosities which have been bequeathed, as Amerbach cabinet and Faesch cabinet, which works great collectors Basel sixteenth and seventeenth century.

References:

Wikipedia

Museums in Switzerland

User Reviews

David Osborn (2 years ago)
A great place to get goosebumps.

Gordon Forsyth (2 years ago)
Nice setting in Historic church, so many beautiful pieces to look at. Some have complained about there not being English translations on most of the plaques, that is true I did see some though. I used a google translator app and that did pretty well. The women at front desk was very nice and even saved me 50% off the the admission price. Much to see, still was under some construction at time I went.

Kane Dodgson (2 years ago)
great museum one of the less expensive places in Switzerland and no cheese! lots of floors of historical stuff and artifacts with much centered around the city of Basel itself and religious icons and artifacts, colourful place surprisingly enjoyed it more than i expected recommended

Emily R Majusiak (2 years ago)
Beautiful museum that makes good use of its location in an old church. Limited English translations available, which made it difficult to understand some sections. Plenty of visual interest made it with while though, particularly in the lower level.

michelle p (3 years ago)
Very nice. Wish the audio guide was easier to use rather than having to type in the numbers of each exhibit. Also wish there were English translations on the plaques

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German crusaders known as the Livonian Brothers of the Sword began construction of the Cēsis castle (Wenden) near the hill fort in 1209. When the castle was enlarged and fortified, it served as the residence for the Order's Master from 1237 till 1561, with periodic interruptions. Its ruins are some of the most majestic castle ruins in the Baltic states. Once the most important castle of the Livonian Order, it was the official residence for the masters of the order.

In 1577, during the Livonian War, the garrison destroyed the castle to prevent it from falling into the control of Ivan the Terrible, who was decisively defeated in the Battle of Wenden (1578).

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