An exhibition in honour of the millennium of Basel Cathedral, which was consecrated in 1019 in the presence of Emperor Henry II.

This major new show unfurls a panoramic cultural history of the reign of the last Ottonian emperor viewed from multiple perspectives.

Exquisite works on loan from private and public collections in both Europe and the United States provide vivid proof of how important Emperor Henry II and his «golden gifts» were – for both the City of Basel and the entire region.

A magnificent array of medieval goldsmithing, bronzes and textiles along with some outstanding examples of book illumination and ivory carving from the Ottonian Empire’s centres of cultural production and archaeological finds from the Basel region supply the larger context for the consecration of Basel Cathedral as a highpoint in Basel’s history. The exhibition also sheds light on how people lived a thousand years ago, Basel’s relations with the Kingdom of Burgundy, the interaction of secular rulers and the Church and the cult of Emperor Henry and Empress Kunigunde, both of whom were later canonized.

The highlight of the show is the Basel Antependium, which for the first time in decades has left Paris and temporarily returned to the place for which it was originally intended. The temporary restitution of this Golden Altar Frontal, which Emperor Henry II is believed to have gifted to Basel Cathedral at its consecration, affords us a unique opportunity to present a masterpiece intricately bound up with the history of the city alongside some of the emperor’s other gifts.