Haus zum Kirschgarten, 18th-century city palace in Basel, Switzerland
Haus zum Kirschgarten is an 18th-century city palace in Basel featuring a sandstone facade, portico, and grand staircase that showcase early classical architecture in Switzerland. The interior contains about 50 exhibition rooms where furniture, clocks, and scientific instruments from different periods are displayed.
Johann Ulrich Büchel built this palace between 1775 and 1780 for silk ribbon manufacturer Johann Rudolf Burckhardt as both a home and business premises. The building was constructed when Basel was strengthening its position as a trading center and wealthy merchants expressed their status through grand architecture.
The building reflects Masonic ideals in how its rooms are arranged and decorated, making it one of a kind among Swiss structures from this era. Visitors can see how the ceremonial spaces on the main floor were designed to serve these specific purposes.
The palace is easily reached on foot from the town center and has a direct entrance from the Kirschgarten courtyard. Visitors should allow enough time to explore the various exhibition rooms and notice the fine details of the interior decoration and furnishings.
This was not just a residence but also the business headquarters of a wealthy silk ribbon manufacturer, showing how closely trade and family life were connected in the 18th century. This combined function as both home and workplace has been preserved in its original form to this day.
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