News

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.

24 June 2022

The entrance area of the Barfüsserkirche has been completely rebuilt and redesigned: The shop, reception desk and cloakroom appear in a fresh and contemporary design. Generous seating invites you to linger.

In the Barfüsserkirche, immersion in history begins at the cloakroom locker: The numbers on the lockers refer to events in Basel's history. The event to which the number refers is written on the inside of the locker door. Curious now? Come by, the Barfüsserkirche is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

3 June 2022

We are pleased to open the special exhibition «Elegant Imbibing – Baroque Silver from a Basel Collection» with a public vernissage on Thursday, 9 June, at 5.30 pm in the Barfüsserkirche. You are cordially invited to attend! The artistically crafted vessels will be on public display for the first time. Read more

3 June 2022

This year we are once again part of the Art Basel Parcours with the Barfüsserkirche and the Haus zum Kirschgarten. Discover the works of Jimmie Durham, Ron Mueck and Timur Si-Qin. Please note the special opening hours during the Art week. Read more

3 June 2022

From 29 June, the small exhibition «Inventarium - A Documentation of the General Inventory» will be on display in the North Chapels of the Barfüsserkirche. There you will learn why the Historisches Museum Basel needs a general inventory and what is currently happening behind the scenes. Read more

3 May 2022

Next Sunday, 8 May, the Family Sunday will take place in the context of the exhibition «animalistic!» at the Musikmuseum. Young and old are welcome to take part in the varied programme: We will build musical instruments out of recycled materials, make music together or explore the exhibition with a search game. Admission for families is free. Read more

3 May 2022

After a Corona-related break, we are looking forward to the Museum Night on 20 May! As every year, the Basel Historical Museum is taking part with the Barfüsserkirche and the Musikmuseum: with the theme «Epidemics, Plague and Covid-19» in the Barfüsserkirche, we are taking up a topical subject, and in the Musikmuseum it will be «animalistic!». 

The Museum Night is an event organised by the museen basel and the Department of Culture Basel-City. On 20 May 2022, 37 museums and cultural institutions will be offering a rich programme from 6-2 pm: www.museumsnacht.ch

3 May 2022

Culture and pleasure come together in this cooperation with the wine bar Chez Grisoni, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the Haus zum Kirschgarten. On several tasting evenings, guests will benefit from a thematically adapted short guided tour in the Haus zum Kirschgarten, which will take place before the actual tasting. The first event will take place on 18 May. Information and registration 

28 April 2022

The directors of the museums in Basel have drawn up a joint statement in which they express their views on the war in Ukraine and formulate their position. In it, they resolutely distance themselves from violence, war, destruction, aggression and all forms of attacks on free, critical thinking and the cultural assets associated with it.

Rather, they make a strong case for their mission to work fundamentally for culture, art and nature/environment and to share their knowledge of their treasures with other people. Persons in need of protection, asylum seekers, provisionally admitted persons with residence status F, N and S as well as recognised refugees (with ID B) can visit the museums and their exhibitions listed free of charge. You can find the whole statement here.

4 April 2022

This Saturday, 9 April, at 3pm, Dutchman Henkjan Honing (b. 1959), one of the leading music cognition researchers, will share with us his fascinating observations and insights into the musicality of animals.

Honing explores the question of whether animals are musical and starts by answering it with humans. Music is an essential part of every human culture.

The lecture will be held in English, the short tour afterwards through «animalistic!» with curator Isabel Münzner in German. Read more

4 April 2022

The so-called library showcase in the Barfüsserkirche has been newly set up. The small exhibition presents the introduction of smallpox inoculation in Basel from the perspective of Johann III Bernoulli, who was vaccinated at the age of 12. The presentation was created in collaboration with the Basel University Library. Read more

4 April 2022

Easter is a great opportunity to bring the Frühlling into the garden pavilion of the Haus zum Kirschgarten. In keeping with tradition, we set out a lush bouquet of flowering branches, decorated with over 150 artistically painted eggs. The Easter hunt game through the garden keeps our little guests on their toes. There is a chocolate bunny to win. Read more

4 April 2022

Just in time for the beginning of spring, the sledges in the carriage passage in the Haus zum Kirschgarten were replaced by a draisine (1818) and a bicycle (2nd half of the 19th century) from our collection. The small presentation shows the successful history of the bicycle, whose popularity increased during the Covid 19 pandemic.

4 March 2022

We are happy that Fasnacht is back this year! That's why we have a carnival lantern «S Salzmuseum oder S Barfiesser-Solbad» from 1975 on display in the porch of the Barfüsserkirche. The clique «Alti Schnooggekerzli 1929» takes as its theme the use of the Barfüsserkirche as a swimming pool.

Our exhibition halls will be closed during Fasnacht. The museums will be open again from Thursday, 10 March.

We wish everyone a wonderful carnival!

4 March 2022

On 26 March, from 6.00 to 8.00 a.m., we offer a guided tour of a special kind: As part of the « animalistic ! » exhibition in the Musikmuseum, you will discover bird calls in Margarethenpark under the expert guidance of ornithologist Christian Marti and identify bird species by their song. Read more

10 February 2022

The Basel Historical Museum and the University Library Basel are delighted to receive the «Comites Latentes» collection on loan. The high-quality private collection comprises 212 manuscripts covering a period from the 6th to the 20th century. Together with the University Library Basel, where they are kept, new research projects can be launched and the manuscripts presented to the public. More information (in German)

3 February 2022

The operational phase of the general inventory in the nine depots and the three exhibition halls of the Historical Museum has been underway since this week. Insights into the large-scale project and the diverse work steps are provided by the blog articles, which will be published on our website on an ongoing basis throughout the duration of the project. You can also subscribe to the blog posts as RSS feeds. To the blog

3 February 2022

As part of the exhibition project « animalistic ! », a science day will take place on 11 February. Five Basel museums will be taking part with a variety of events. Where are animals idolised, where exploited? What role do they play in our everyday lives, in art and music? How do they make people healthy or ill? Visitors will delve into exciting questions about the relationship between humans and animals. More information

7 January 2022

In a co-production with the Junioratelier, the Basel Historical Museum presents a show and radio play in the Haus zum Kirschgarten on 14 dates from January to March. A night watchman takes the audience on an entertaining tour through the magnificent mansion in the evening. A rare opportunity not to be missed. Further information and registration: junioratelier.ch

7 January 2022

During excavations at the St. Alban-Graben in 2020, archaeologists discovered the skeleton of a monkey in a late medieval latrine tower. The find is a rarity throughout Europe. In cooperation with the Archäologische Bodenforschung, the Basel Historical Museum is showing in a small exhibition what the investigations so far have brought to light. The presentation can be seen in the Barfüsserkirche from 21 January.

6 December 2021

When browsing in our museum shops, you will come across a wide variety of pretty and practical little things that are perfect as Christmas gifts.

At the Musikmuseum, the shop currently has all sorts of articles inspired by the «animalistic!» exhibition. Take your pick from croaking frogs, soft cuddly birds, and more. The shop at the Haus zum Kirschgarten offers a wide variety of high-quality tree decorations and colourful wind lights that match the splendour of the museum's magnificently decorated Christmas trees. Our largest shop at the Barfüsserkirche currently has a special sale underway. Bargain hunters can find all sorts of stocking fillers: cleaning cloths for glasses, colourful fabric bags, artful magnets, books, and more. Drop in and be inspired!

5 November 2021

Every year, a festive atmosphere is created in the wonderful mansion. Throughout Advent and until the beginning of January, numerous magnificently decorated Christmas trees adorn the beautiful house. By the way, the Haus zum Kirschgarten is also open for you on all Tuesdays in December from 11 am to 5 pm. Read more

5 November 2021

In the Haus zum Kirschgarten, ceramic mustard vessels from the 18th century can be rediscovered in two small wall display cases. They are precious tableware. The vessels made of porcelain and faience offer a cross-section of European ceramic history and fascinate with their wide range of shapes and decorations.

1st October 2021

On 21 October at 6 pm, the Basel Historical Museum will open the exhibition «tierisch! – The Sound of Animals» with a vernissage. The exhibition explores the many connections between animals and music. In doing so, it raises fundamental questions: Are animals musical? Do whales and birds sing? And how can a possible « enjoyment » of music by animals be determined? The exhibition offers insights for young and old into this exciting topic. Read more

13 June 2022

The Basel Historical Museum is pleased to be part of the Art Basel Parcours again this year, June 13 – June 19 2022. A work by the American conceptual artist Jimmie Durham will be shown in the Barfüsserkirche and a sculpture by the Australian sculptor Ron Mueck will be shown in front of the Barfüsserkirche. In the garden of the Haus zum Kirschgarten, Timur Si-Qin will present a work.

Please note the special opening hours of the Barfüsserkirche and the Haus zum Kirschgarten during the Art Basel Parcours:

Mon 13.00 – 20.00, Tue – Fri 10.00 – 20.00, Sat 10.00 – 23.00, Sun 10.00 – 19.00.


The access to the artworks is free of charge.
Read more

27 August 2021

In the courtyard of the Musikmuseum, everything revolves around the rose and other botanical beauties from 15 to 18 September. The rose market looks back on a long tradition: it is taking place for the 12th time. Robust rose seedlings from the region, flower bulbs, autumn perennials and much more will be on offer. Read more

27 August 2021

«TiM – Tandem in the Museum» is an outreach programme that brings people who did not know each other before together in a museum. At the annual impulse meeting on 17 September, the experiences of TiM-Tandem after one year are presented. This takes place in small groups in various museums. Or you can participate exclusively via Zoom. The event is open to all interested people. Registration deadline is 1 September. Read more

27 August 2021

The Archaeological Soil Research Basel-Stadt has set up two new archaeological information points on Basel's urban history in the Theater-Passage and Fasnachtsgasse. At the centre of the staging is the history of the Barfüsser monastery, which once stood on this site. A bronze model of the monastery and an archaeoscope, a telescope into the past, provide exciting insights into its history. Read more