From cabaret to high culture
Cultural Mecca Basel
It's quite possible that you'll get stuck on the way to Art Basel - one of the most important international art fairs, one of the numerous exhibitions, galleries or one of the city's more than 40 museums. After all, inspiring art is just as omnipresent on the squares and streets of Basel as top-class architecture and awakens the spontaneous spirit of discovery.
Art for all
Two of the most famous works of art in public spaces are worth mentioning here: the Tinguely Fountain by the Swiss artist of the same name on Theaterplatz is a bubbling, bubbling, constantly surprising fountain machine that delights young and old alike. Those who have acquired a taste for it will find a whole collection of the artist's machine sculptures in the nearby Tinguely Museum. The Hammering Man by American artist Jonathan Borofsky, over thirteen meters tall, swings his hammer on Aeschenplatz, visible from afar.
Incidentally, he is not hammering alone. Other versions of the sculpture can be found in various major cities around the world. And the two works are not alone in Basel either, because as I said: works of art are waiting for open eyes and an open mind in many corners of Basel.
Picture above: © Stadtmarketing Basel
Museums in Basel
Basel Art Museum
The Basel Art Museum, one of the oldest municipal art collections in the world - i.e. open to the public - opened its doors in the 17th century and exhibits paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings and prints from seven centuries of international art history to the present day. The high-quality collection includes some of the world's greatest works of art. Since 2016, there has also been more space for the well-curated special exhibitions thanks to the extension by renowned Basel architects Christ and Gantenbein. It is not without reason that the museum is one of the best art museums in the world.
Fondation Beyeler
The Fondation Beyeler in Riehen presents a wonderful collection and changing special exhibitions of classical modern and contemporary art - in an elegant, cubic building designed by architect Renzo Piano, which offers an even more relaxed view of the art thanks to the wonderful views of the garden and the orchards of the "Lange Erlen". In the next few years, an extension will also create more space for the exhibits here.
Basel Street Art
You won't find Basel's diverse street art in a museum, but you will find it in a guide: the book "Street Art Basel und Region" takes you to the city's outstanding works of graffiti and murals. Of course, you will come across many of the colorful facade artworks on your way through the city even without a guide.
Warteck workroom
Among the numerous spaces for young art in Basel, one centrally located example is the Werkraum Warteck on the former site of the brewery of the same name. here, 50 meters from the banks of the Rhine, you can combine stylish dining with young art and clubbing with innovative performance and theater - all in the most beautiful industrial building setting. The website"a roland for an oliver" provides an overview of the city's independent, non-commercial art spaces and projects.
Museum of Cultures
Over 40 museums offer something for every age, every taste, every area of interest and every weather - from horsepower to toys, art, crafts and cartoons to antiquity. For example, the Museum of Cultures, one of the largest ethnological collections in Europe and a world-renowned museum, is located in the heart of the old town. In Augst, just outside Basel, you can go straight back to antiquity:
Augusta Raurica
Augusta Raurica - the excavation site of a Roman city, shows well-preserved remains of mosaics, tools, a Roman theater, streets and temples and provides insights into everyday Roman life in countless details and a museum. A good overview of the museums in and around Basel with a calendar of events can be found at www.museenbasel.ch.
Opening hours
Basel's museums | When is what open?
Basel is also an excellent place for lovers of music, dance and theater. As the largest three-division theater in Switzerland, Theater Basel in the city center offers ballet, opera and drama on three stages at the highest level and with a wide-ranging repertoire. Basel is also known for its many small stages, a large independent theater scene and an active dance scene. Musical fans have a whole theater to themselves in Basel: the Musical Theater Basel. And jazz lovers should not miss the legendary bird's eye jazz club.
Architecture in Basel
Building culture at its finest
Modern architecture
Some of the biggest names in international architecture, such as Herzog & de Meuron or Diener & Diener, come from Basel. And many of the world's great architects come to Basel to build here. Building culture - both historical and contemporary - is highly valued in the city. You can see that wherever you go and wherever you stand.
Twelve Pritzker Prize winners alone have helped shape the image of the city and its surroundings. At our hotel, you will be staying directly in one of Basel's architectural icons: The Messeturm by Morger Degelo Marques. Herzog & de Meuron are represented with the Glass Palace at the Elsässertor, the Schaulager and the Roche Tower, the tallest building in Basel, Mario Botta with the Tinguely Museum and the circular bank building at the railroad station, while the Merian House by Zwimpfer Partner surprises with the green façade by artist Donald Judd.
Architectural icon
The Novartis Campus is a veritable rendezvous of the world's best architects and landscape architects. The Dreispitz area with the new Campus of the Arts has been converted into an interesting mix of industrial, residential and art school district at the highest architectural level. And the Vitra Campus in nearby Weil am Rhein is not only worth a visit for its museum of design classics.
The buildings by greats such as Gehry, Hadid, Ando, Siza, Grimshaw and SANAA are a collection in themselves. It is therefore not surprising that the Swiss Architecture Museum can also be found in Basel. An architectural stroll through the city rewards those interested with a firework display of the finest architecture!
