News

31 August 2023

The duration of the exhibition «Out of Use - Everyday Life in Transition» in the Barfüsserkirche is drawing to a close. There are two and a half weeks left to see the exhibition before it closes its doors. Visit the exhibition or one of the last events such as the storytelling café, the determination day or the last public guided tour with Margret Ribbert.

31 August 2023

The Flâneur Festival presents Basel's diversity during three days from 7 to 9 September at Elisabethenstrasse - it is a place of encounter, exchange and creativity. We are happy to be part of this urban space festival with the Haus zum Kirschgarten. The beautiful garden invites you to linger, the Noohn will take care of the catering and a DJ will provide melodious beats. Read more

31 August 2023

The European Heritage Day on 9 September in Basel will focus on the Steinenberg and the Aeschenplatz. Two architectural icons are located in the immediate vicinity: the Barfüsserkirche and the Haus zum Kirschgarten. Learn exciting facts about the eventful history of the Barfüsserkirche or the early classicist architecture of the magnificent city palace in entertaining guided tours. Read more

31 August 2023

The official Democracy Day will take place on 15 September. The Historical Museum has come up with a special guided tour for this occasion: a democratic tour in which the participation of the audience is desired. The visitors influence the course of the tour through the exhibition «Leaps in Time» with their choice. Read more

18 July 2023

Thanks to the generous support of the Bundesamt für Kultur (BAK), we are able to research the provenance of objects in Switzerland's largest collection on European music history and to check for suspected cases of unlawful seizure. For this reason, we welcome Renato Moser to our team.

3rd July 2023

The secluded garden of the Haus zum Kirschgarten in the middle of Basel is now open to everyone free of charge during our opening hours. Treat yourself to a break at lunchtime with a picnic you have brought with you in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Access to the garden is via the main entrance.

3rd July 2023

Take advantage of the summer holidays to (re)discover the exhibition «animalistic!». It can only be experienced at the Musikmuseum until 27 August. You will be whisked away into the diverse and exciting relationship between animals and music. The last three public tours of the exhibition can be found here. The catalogue for the exhibition series in four Basel museums is available at the unbeatable price of CHF 19.90.

20. Juni 2023

Am 1. Juli 2023 findet in Basel zum ersten Mal ein eigener Pride-Festival-Tag statt. An diversen Veranstaltungen feiern Menschen dann die LGBTQIA*-Community unter dem Motto «Basel tickt bunt». Für die Ausstellung «Zeitsprünge» sind wir auf der Suche nach Fotos vom Anlass. Zum Formular

13 June 2023

As part of the special exhibition "Out of Use - Everyday Life in Transition", we organised a photo contest to find the most beautiful photos of telephone booths. From around 80 entries of telephone booths from all over the world, we have now awarded prizes to the most beautiful ten. To the results

9 June 2023

Marc Zehntner will definitely become director of the Basel Historical Museum. The President of the Basel Cantonal Government, Beat Jans, has approved the unanimous proposal of the Museum Commission. With the 51-year-old Basel resident, a proven museum expert is taking over the management of the museum.

2 June 2023

On 5 June, the general inventory in the exhibition buildings of the Historical Museum will begin. First up are the objects in the Haus zum Kirschgarten. So don't be surprised if you come across our Inventis who are in the process of measuring, photographing, appraising and inventorying objects. Take the opportunity to observe the team in this process. By 2025, approximately 350,000 objects will undergo a major inventory at the Historical Museum. Blog General Inventory

2 June 2023

An exhibition of sculptures by Sonja Knapp will be on show in the garden of the Haus zum Kirschgarten from 14 to 18 June, with free admission.

Sonja Knapp graduated from the School of Applied Arts in Zurich. She started her career as an illustrator and graphic designer in Paris. In the 1960s she was a co-founder of the Haute Couture Maison Emanuel Ungaro Paris. With her imprimé fabrics and futuristic «Body Sculptures», she left her mark on the world-famous fashion brand. Today, the internationally active artist devotes herself solely to her passion for art. Her impressive sculptures in highly polished stainless steel form a fascinating dialogue between art and nature.

You can find out more about Sonja Knapp and her works here.

2 June 2023

During the Hammond Week from 5 - 11 June there will be two performative guided tours in the Musikmuseum and four concerts in the bird's eye jazz club. The idea is to explore the historic organ in the Musikmuseum with its manuals, bass pedals, drawbars, scanner vibrato and electromechanical tone generator and to play it with new musical ideas. Read more, bird's eye jazz club

2 May 2023

The 7th theatre square day will take place on 4 May. The Basel Historical Museum is participating with a colourful programme: Take part in an entertaining guided tour through the exhibition « Out of Use – Everyday Life in Transition » or visit the panel discussion on the topic of « Provenance Research in the Museum ». Take part in the quiz and win an exclusive tour of the attic of the Barfüsserkirche. Detailed programme

2 May 2023

Whatever puzzling and strange objects are slumbering in your cupboards, cellar or attic: bring your curiosities to the Barfüsserkirche for viewing on 7 May from 2 to 4 pm. Together with our curators, you can get to the bottom of the objects' function. Among others, our numismatist, Andrea Casoli, is looking forward to seeing your coins and medals. Read more

2 May 2023

As part of the exhibition «Animalistic! – The Sound of Animals» at the Musikmuseum, the Historical Museum entered into a cooperation with the Gymnasium Leonhard. The pupils used the special exhibition as a springboard into songwriting and an impulse to reflect on the works sung in the choir. On 12 May, a concert evening with two bands will take place in the courtyard of the Musikmuseum, where the animal compositions can be experienced. Read more

5 April 2023

At the end of March, the carriage platform in the Haus zum Kirschgarten was newly equipped. On display is a sweepers' handcart that was used to clean the city about a hundred years ago. This carriage fits in well with the season: during the summer months, social life largely takes place in public spaces. As a result, litter is left lying around in busy places - a major problem of the consumer and throwaway society.

5 April 2023

The exhibition "Out of Use - Everyday Life in Transition" has been open since 23 March 2023. Numerous visitors have visited it since then and in many cases also typed feedback into the typewriter provided. "Great exhibition," writes Jonas (10), for example, and another feedback asks: "What else is going to disappear?

The special exhibition uses a wide range of everyday objects to illustrate past ways of life. It will remain open until 17.09.2023. Read more

5 April 2023

Once again this year, the magnificent Easter bouquet adorns the garden pavilion in the Haus zum Kirschgarten. Over 200 hand-painted unique pieces are on display, each egg a miniature work of art.

From Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday, our three houses are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Barfüsserkirche) or 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Haus zum Kirschgarten and Music Museum). Read more

9 March 2023

As part of the special exhibition "Out of Use - Everyday Life in Transition", the Barfi telephone booths that fell out of use in 2019 will be placed in front of the Barfüsserkirche. Have you taken photos of telephone booths? Or do you have a special telephone booth close to you? We are looking for pictures of telephone booths in a photo competition. The best entries will be rewarded with attractive prizes. To the competition (in German)

9 March 2023

On Sunday, 5 March, the first identification afternoon took place in the Barfüsserkirche as part of the new special exhibition "Out of Use - Everyday Life in Transition". Curators helped visitors to determine the functions of curious everyday objects and household appliances.

From now on, curious objects can also be viewed in a digital gallery or recorded by the visitors themselves: www.aussergebrauch.ch. The next identification afternoons will take place on Sunday, 7 May and Sunday, 10 September 2023 from 2.00 to 4.00 pm. Programme

9 March 2023

We are looking forward to the new special exhibition "Out of Use - Everyday Life in Transition". It shows technical and social changes during the last three centuries. The construction is currently in full swing. The vernissage will take place on Wednesday, 22 March 2023 at 6.30 pm in the Barfüsserkirche. You are cordially invited! Read more

9 March 2023

In this year's cooperation between the Leonhard Gymnasium and the Musikmuseum, an evening visit to the museum with a guided tour and musical treats will be offered on 17 March and 18 March respectively. These are the preliminary events for the classical spring concert under the title " Tierisch" in the Leonhardskirche. The animal world has always inspired the creation of the most diverse musical pieces. Advance tickets have been on sale since 06.03.2023 at the secretary's office of the Leonhard Grammar School. To the programme

9 March 2023

Where did public discussions take place in the late Middle Ages, where today? In the library showcase in the Barfüsserkirche, we are now showing the beginnings of philosophy in Basel and recognising the image of a Middle Ages eager for discussion and searching for the truth. The small presentation was created in close cooperation with the University Library of Basel. Read more

7 February 2023

To get in the mood for carnival, two guided tours are on the programme at the Musikmuseum: on 15 and 26 February you will have the opportunity to discover typical carnival instruments such as piccolos, drums, timpani and large brass instruments. The unmistakable Basel carnival sound not only makes the Basel heart beat faster!

3 January 2023

Until 29 January you will have the opportunity to see the approx. 150 artistically designed drinking vessels from the Baroque period. The silver objects, which come from a private collection in Basel, are on display exclusively in the Barfüsserkirche. Among them are also curious and rare pieces that tell us a lot about the drinking customs of that time. Read more

3 January 2023

The annual Museum Night takes place on 20 January. The Basel Historical Museum is traditionally involved with the Barfüsserkirche and the Musikmuseum: in the Barfüsserkirche, the night is dedicated to the cup in reference to the exhibition «Elegant Imbibing». In the Musikmuseum, animals in the circus and at the fair play the main role. Our partner, the Museum of Music Automatons Seewen, lets amazing barrel organs play. Detailed program

3 January 2023

In the second talk in the series «Inventarium – Museums in Conversation», representatives of various museums will discuss the potential and challenges of these collection general inventories on 26 January in the Barfüsserkirche. The admission is free of charge. Read more

1 December 2022

The Basel Historical Museum will actively celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities for the first time on 3 December 2022. On this day, visitors will experience the museum visit differently. Together with numerous cooperation partners, the Historical Museum will enable all kinds of sensory experiences. Programme

1 December 2022

As a foretaste of the special exhibition «Out of Use – Everyday Life in Transition», which will take place in the Barfüsserkirche from 23 March to 17 September 2023, in this Advent calendar we will show one object each day on the theme of objects out of use. However, these are objects in miniature format, like those found in dollhouses. And as with the original-sized objects, the question arises: What is this? To the Advent calendar

14 November 2022

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The brutal and completely unexpected attack forced many people to leave their homes. From 22 November 2022, three contemporary witnesses will tell of the outbreak of war and their new lives in the Basel region in the exhibition «Leaps in Time». The objects on display, which they brought with them or created, are symbols of their lives before the war, their flight and the challenges of coping with their experiences. Read more

Leaps in Time

4 November 2022

At the end of November, the Haus zum Kirschgarten traditionally gets into the Christmas spirit: 14 fir trees decorated with historical and modern Christmas tree ornaments give the palace a special glow. Concerts and special events in the Musikmuseum and the Barfüsserkirche also invite visitors to get in the mood for this special time of year. Read more

4 November 2022

This month you can enjoy two scenic tours with Barbara Schneebeli: she slips into the role of Babette, a maid employed by a wealthy Basel family. There she gets to hear a lot from her master and chats out of the sewing box. Read more

30 September 2022

Autumn is a particularly good time for a visit to the museum. In the exhibition « Elegant Imbibing » we are dedicating a new guided tour to the technical tricks of making silver vessels. On 20 November, there will be a tour by Dr Karin Tebbe from Heidelberg, a proven expert in the art of goldsmithing. Don't miss this unique opportunity! Read more

12 September 2022

The popular show and radio play «The Adventurous Escape of Count Cagliostro from the Haus zum Kirschgarten» enters its second season! From 11.11.2022 to 11.03.2023 there are eight performances to choose from. Book now.

12 September 2022

The Theatre Square Festival initiated last year will take place this year on 17 September. The institutions located around the Theatre Square invite you to a colourful festival and grant you an exclusive look behind the scenes. Read more

12 September 2022

A high-calibre collection of predominantly medieval manuscripts was transferred to the Basel Historical Museum as a permanent loan in February 2022. Individual works are now being presented to the public for the first time as part of a small exhibition. Read more

12 September 2022

On Thursday, 29 September from 6 pm to 7.30 pm, Anne Hasselmann will discuss the topic of collections as a historically evolved phenomenon with Anna Joss, Flavio Häner and Patrick Moser, experts on the history of collections at the Swiss National Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Basel Historical Museum. Read more

1 September 2022

The official Democracy Day will take place on 15 September. The Basel Historical Museum has come up with a special tour for this occasion: a democratic tour in which the participation of the audience is desired. The visitors influence the course of the tour through the exhibition «Leaps of Time» with their choice. Read more

1 September 2022

Together with the Haus zum Kirschgarten, the Basel Historical Museum is part of the Kunsttage Basel, which will take place at 55 locations on the weekend of 1 – 4 September. In the site-specific performance «Eyes Ears Mouth (Half Closed)» (2022), dance, music and space combine to form a whole. Sound and movement at different locations in the Haus zum Kirschgarten also invite visitors to take a tour of the institution. Read more

1 September 2022

For two days (10 and 11 September), Basel will become a meeting place for trend-setting ensembles from the medieval and contemporary music scenes. In a workshop at the Musikmuseum, for example, visitors will immerse themselves vocally in the Middle Ages. Read more

1 September 2022

From 12–18 September, the Hochrhein Music Festival will hold its first interdisciplinary festival «Erasmus klingt! – Festival Lab» in historic spaces in Basel's old town which will highlight Erasmus' impact on the sciences of the following centuries. Three events will take place in the Barfüsserkirche on 18 September. Read more

1 September 2022

As part of the Basel Gourmet Week, three special events will be held at the Haus zum Kirschgarten in partnership with Chez Grisoni: Guests will enjoy the unique combination of interesting thematic tours of the museum with a tasting of exquisite wines. Read more

24 June 2022

During the summer, the exhibition rooms in the basement of the Barfüsserkirche are pleasantly cool. There, the exhibition «Elegant Imbibing – Baroque Silver from a Basel Collection» entices visitors with a varied programme: guided tours by curators and experts as well as exciting insights into the goldsmith's workshop. Our goldsmith and conservator-restorer Martin Sauter will demonstrate and explain techniques for making vessels as well as jewellery. You can find the entire programme for «Elegant Imbibing» here.