Jewish Museum of Switzerland., Jewish historical museum in Basel, Switzerland
The Jewish Museum of Switzerland is a history museum in Basel that displays religious objects, artworks, and everyday items related to Jewish life. The collection spans from the Middle Ages to the present day and covers both personal belongings and objects of communal meaning.
The museum opened in 1966 as the first Jewish museum in German-speaking Europe after World War II. Its founding came at a time when public recognition of Jewish history in the region was still taking its first steps.
The museum's name and collection tie Basel to the rural Jewish communities of Endingen and Lengnau in the Surbtal, whose 218 Torah binders (mappot) span almost three centuries and form the largest cohesive set from a known community. Documents on the Basel Zionist Congresses and original letters by Theodor Herzl sit alongside silver ceremonial objects and embroidered textiles from the 17th to 20th centuries.
The museum sits in the center of Basel and is easy to reach on foot from the old town. Opening hours vary by day of the week, so it is worth checking before you visit.
The new premises at Vesalgasse 5 stand on the site of Basel's medieval Jewish cemetery, and the building served as a tobacco warehouse before Diener & Diener converted it. The move cost around 8.5 million Swiss francs, mostly covered by private donations, and doubled the exhibition space.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,745 contributors worldwide.
