Barfüsserkirche, Gothic church and historical museum in Basel, Switzerland
The Barfüsserkirche is a Gothic building in Basel's old town with tall pointed arches and large windows that flood the interior with light. It has been adapted to display art and objects that tell stories about the region's past.
The building was constructed in the 13th century as a monastery church for Franciscan friars. After the Reformation changed the city's religious life, it served different purposes before becoming a museum in the late 1800s.
The name comes from the Barefoot friars who made this their home and place of worship. Today the soaring vault and carved stonework inside reveal how central this place was to the community that built it.
The building sits near the main market square and is easy to reach on foot from Basel's central streets. Visiting on weekdays tends to be quieter than on weekends when the exhibition spaces get busier.
During renovation work in 1975, workers uncovered an old burial chamber beneath the church containing human remains. The discovery later led researchers to trace unexpected family connections across European history.
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