Historisches Museum Basel – Barfüsserkirche

The Basel Historical Museum, housed in the Barfüsserkirche since 1894, shows selected aspects of the history of Basel from prehistoric times to the present. The focus of the exhibits from the pre-Reformation period is on sacred works of art such as the Basel Dance of Death and Basel Cathedral Treasury. The exhibition in the basement, headed “Understanding the World”, comprises a magnificent array of medieval tapestries with their fantasy worlds and scenes of real life, the Renaissance and Baroque collections, now grouped together in one “Great Cabinet of Curiosities”, and Basel’s rich archaeological heritage. Among the other highlights are the coin cabinet and the Burgundian Booty.

This museum greets you in the following languages: D/F/E
Opening 1894

Current exhibitions

Medieval Worlds of Faith

23.03.2018 - 31.12.2024

Showcased here will be medieval works of art from churches in Switzerland and on the Upper Rhine. The impressive sculptures attesting to the veneration of saints are a reminder of how society was pervaded by the Christian faith and the church and of the influence they have retained to this day.

The exhibition is documented in the following languages: D/F/E

Leaps in Time – A Brief History of Basel

22.06.2019 - 31.12.2024

Around 200,000 people from 200 nations live in Basel. The city forms the centre of a large tri-national region with a long history. The ‘Zeitsprünge’ exhibition offers highlights of the events and developments that have shaped the city and the region. Around one hundred exhibits lead the visitor through time – from the earliest traces of mankind to contemporary objects.

The exhibition is documented in the following languages: D/F/E