Basel Things to Do

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Photos:
1. St Alban
2. Signpost for pedestrian routes in the St Alban Valley

St Alban is an attractive and evidently prosperous section of Basel on the left bank of the Rhine River. Traditionally this was where the old, established families of Basel used to live.

There is a large youth hostel in St Alban, where I once stayed when I was somewhat more youthful than I am now. This youth hostel has been closed since November 2008 for refurbishment and extension work.

I don't remember what it was like when I was there, but they say that the "new, modern youth hostel" is expected to reopen in February 2010. It will then provide around 240 beds in a variety of room types (double room to six-bed rooms). They also claim to serve "marvellous food in the vaulted dining hall".

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This museum for contemporary art is a MUST SEE! Personally I think it is more important than the whole Holbein exposition - although it contains some fine drawings. The building is amazing and the things on display are almost all briljant.
I genuinly liked the A-Z (Andrea Zitter) pieces. They're a combination of modesty, simplicity, plain every day activity and briljant observation: making something that is close to you can make great art. It somehow reminds me of Bauhaus, but without the fuss.

Basels Museums (and especially the Antikenmuseum) are always trying to get special exhibitions also from other countries.

We have had special Exhibitions about Tibet, Dinosaurs, the Romans etc.

Now the newest one is from Egypt.
Tut Ench Amun und das Goldene Jenseits
(Tutenchamun and the golden life after death).

It is a really impressive Exhibition. By now it is not easy to get tickets. Guided group tours are all booked out.
If you want to get tickets, take your credit card with you. Better is it to book ahead via the net (see link below)

The whole Basel seems to be in Egypt fever - Pharaos wherever you look.
The picture ... ah see yourself

(thanks to Tea for giving me the picture).

Brueglingen is one of the two botanical gardens in Basel.
Actually this one is located a little outside, behind the St. Jakob Stadion and garden bath.

In the Park right next to it ,they had a big exhibition in 1980, and the name kinda stuck, so today the area is called "Gruen 80" (green 80).

The park with its big lake and smaller creeks and lot of green areas is a recreation place for the Basler.
You can have a stroll through this green surrounding or lie at the lake go biking or with the inline skates.
Do not be astounded if you happen about a bigger Dinosaur in the park, that is a relict from the exhibition.

On the picture they had an exhibition from a Dadaism-artist (actually she was the girlfriend of Tinguely, so its no wonder this moved and turned, too, like the Tinguely fountain...)

UPDATE: Right now (summer 2005) they have an exhibition of Dinosaurs with many sculptures scattered all over the park.

The collections of the Historical Museum Basel are split up into four parts. The largest and most interesting one is IMO located in the Barfüsserkirche, the former Franciscan church. This church is said to be the most important building of Franciscan architecture north of the Alps - and really impressive. It was built in the 14th century. Since 1894 it serves as home of the collections of the Historical Museum. With its many pieces of Upper Rhine art and culture it is next to the Swiss National Museum in Zurich the most important Historical Museum in Switzerland.

In the cellar you can see an exhibit on the history of Basel, original interior - entire rooms of Patrician houses were moved to the museum! -, jewellry and coins.

On the ground floor outstanding works of art from the Upper Rhine and Basel in particular are displayed (sculptures, original figures of fountains, gobelins etc.). On the rood screen you can see the pieces of the cathedral's treasure which stayed in Basel - amazing. Breathtaking are also the medieval altars in the former choir.

When I visited they showed a temporary exhibit on Switzerland and the WWII which was very interesting.

Opening hours: Mon, Wed-Sun 10 - 17
Entrance fee: 7 SFr., every first Sunday each month free.

This Patrician house, built 1775 - 80 with a noble facade of red sandstone was once surrounded by gardens (remains in the backyard). Since 1951 it is home of one of the parts of the Historical Museum.

It shows original interior of the 18th and 19th century in Basel. The beautiful furniture come from Basel's Patrician houses. Beside the more than 30 furnished rooms you can see a clock/watch exhibit, scientific instruments, porcelain and fayences. Very funny is the toys collection.

Opening hours: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun 10-17 h; Wed 10-20 h; Sat 13-17 h
Entrance fee: 7 SFr., every first Sunday each month free

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I doubt this museum gets the number of visitors that it deserves. Thousands pass by on the way to Fondation Beyeler and ignore this excellent museum which is located right in the heart of Riehen in the manor of former famous Basel mayor Wettstein from the 17th century. The interior of the house(s) alone is worth the visit. Beautiful wooden panels on the walls and ceilings, some furniture and fancy ovens, the impressive wine cellar etc.

But the toy museums is - wow! They do have one of the most important collections of European toys from several centuries. What particularly fascinated me was to see plenty of wooden toys from past centuries manufactured in my home region, the Saxon Erzgebirge. But there are also other pieces, like toy carousels from Paris, dolls and large rocking horses. Heaven for kids - and the best is, they also have corners/rooms where the kids can actually play with toys. So this is definitely a place for families to go.

The museum on the village's history was also interesting. Smaller, but it covered the history over the centuries in detail, focusing on the golden era when the manors of the Basel Patricians were built and the more recent history like WWII.

The viticulture museum is quite small but located in the impressive wine cellar. It was amazing to see so few vineyards survived.

Open Wed-Mon 11-17 h
Admission fee: 7 Sfr. / Kids up to 16 free
Tram #6, stop Riehen Dorf

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The Music Museum in Basel is relatively new, it opened in 2000. The exhibit presents about 650 musical instruments from several centuries. Honestly, the instruments themselves were not *that* exciting. I much more liked that they had touch-screens where you could get information but also select examples for music that is made with those actual instruments on display. Quite some famous pieces among the examples!

Also, the building is interesting. The so called Lohnhof is a complex that goes back to a former Augustine monastery. Quite a few buildings are preserved, like the St. Leonhardt church, the toilet tower (really!) and some others, most of it was replaced by newer buildings, though, because from 1821 on the complex was used for police and prison. In 1995 the prison was relocated and the whole area reconstructed. Now it is home for the museum, but you also find a hotel, restaurant and apartments here. One prison cell is originally preserved and you can see it during the museum tour.

Opening hours:
Wed-Sat 14-18 h
Sun 11-17 h
Admission fee: 7 Sfr.