Basel Minster, Gothic cathedral in Basel, Switzerland
Description
Basel Minster is a Gothic cathedral built from red sandstone that sits on a hill overlooking the Rhine, with two slim towers reaching 67 meters high. The structure measures 65 meters in length and 32.5 meters across, featuring ornately carved interior spaces and detailed stonework on its facade.
History
Construction of this cathedral began in 1091, but the Basel earthquake of 1356 destroyed much of the original building and required substantial rebuilding. The reconstruction shaped its appearance for centuries to come and established it as a central landmark of the city.
Culture
The cathedral served as the spiritual center of Catholic Basel before becoming a Protestant house of worship during the Reformation. Today visitors can see inside a mix of religious artwork and reformed elements that reflect this profound transformation.
Practical
The cathedral sits on Münsterplatz and can be reached by taking trams 2 or 15 to Kunstmuseum station, then walking through Rittergasse to the entrance. The site is easy to navigate on foot, as the steps leading to the building itself are manageable for most visitors.
Did you know?
The crypt holds the tomb of Queen Anne of Habsburg and her son Charles, whose remains traveled through different locations across centuries. This shifting history shows how political and religious changes affected the burial places of important figures.
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Basel sits where Switzerland, France, and Germany meet, and has grown over centuries into a major center of culture and architecture. The city preserves its history through buildings and museums that shape how people live, work, and worship here, showing the layers of time in its streets and...
Münsterplatz
65 m
Paul Sacher Foundation
107 m
Reischacherhof
98 m
Pisoni-Brunnen
104 mAllianzCinema Basel
108 m
Domhof
92 m
Ramsteinerhof
101 m
Reformiertes Sigristenhaus am Münster
102 mRömische Umfassungmauer
158 m
Reinacherhof
131 m
Augustinerhof
153 m
Allgemeine Lesegesellschaft, Sammlung
59 m
Unter den Linden house
83 m
Häuser Münsterplatz
96 m
House Auf Burg with Sacher archive
107 m
Bischofshof mit Stift
46 m
Andlauerhof
110 m
Zum Ulrichsgärtlein (Villa von Em. La Roche)
115 m
Zum Delphin House
122 m
Schürhof (Kleiner Rollerhof)
142 m
Regisheimerhof und Falkensteinerhof
55 m
Minster hill / old town, late Latène medieval settlement
81 m
Haus zur St. Johanns Capelle
115 m
Allgemeine Lesegesellschaft (building)
57 mThomas Plattner Brunnen Basel
106 mTachet
111 mBerney Fine Arts
110 mStatue, Work of art
97 mReal people, real opinions — but not verified.
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