Toy Worlds Museum Basel, Children's museum in Basel-Vorstaedte, Switzerland.
Toy Worlds Museum Basel is a children's museum in Basel-Vorstaedte that spans four floors and displays over 6,000 toys in wooden and glass display cases. The collection includes dolls, model vehicles, dollhouses, and other playthings from different centuries, all arranged in modern and inviting rooms.
The museum building was constructed in 1867 and houses significant items spanning more than 150 years of toy history. The oldest pieces in the collection date from the early 1900s, showing how toy manufacturing developed during that period into a major industry.
Toys are arranged throughout the museum in themed worlds rather than displayed by era, which shows how children played and imagined in different times. This approach helps visitors understand how playthings shaped childhood across generations.
The museum is located in central Basel and is easily reached on foot or by public transport. Visitors should note that displays are spread across multiple levels, so plan time to explore at a comfortable pace.
The collection holds one of Europe's largest assemblies of historical teddy bears, including rare examples from the German maker Steiff and other classic manufacturers. This particular focus reveals how a single toy type became beloved across different countries and generations.
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