Museum of Cultures in Basel

The Museum of Cultures in Basel was founded in the 1840s as the Museum of Natural History and Ethnography. It was placed in a neoclassical building designed in 1849 by the architect Melchior Berri to house a museum dedicated to science and art exhibits.

In 1917,  due  to  the  increase  of  the  collections,  the  Ethnographic  Department  became  an  independent  institution  (the  Ethnographic  Museum)  and  it  was  housed  in  an  extension  to  the  original  building.  Renamed  in  1944  as  the  Museum  of  Ethnology  and  Swiss  Museum  of  Folklore,  it  changed  in  1996  to  his  current  name,  focusing  on  the  intercultural  exchange.  Throughout  its  history,  the  museum  has  undergone  several  structural  renovations.  The  last  one  took  place  between  2008  in  2011,  by  architects  Herzog  &  de  Meuron,  when  it  was  added  a  new  gallery  floor,  a  new  roof  and  it  was  changed  his  main  entrance  to  the  Münsterplatz  square.

Architect: Melchior  Berri

Project  date: 1849

ACCESSIBILITY

All the rooms of the museum are adapted to the needs of disabled persons.

HOW TO REACH

By public transport:
Take tram No. 2 (from ‘Bahnhof SBB’ or ‘Badischer Bahnhof’) to the ‘Kunstmuseum’ stop, then walk along Rittergasse and across Münsterplatz to the museum entrance at Münsterplatz 20.

By car:
Take the motorway exit marked ‘Basel City’ or ‘Badischer Bahnhof’. Please follow the parking guidance system and use the multi-story car parks in the centre of Basel. There are no parking facilities at the museum.

ADMISSION

Adults from age 20 CHF 16.00
Groups of 10 or more CHF 11.00
Young people under the age of 20 CHF 5.00
Trainees under the age of 30 with proof of eligibility CHF 5.00
Children under the age of 13 free
Museums-Pass-Musées free
Schweizerischer Museumspass free
Members of the Cultural Circle and ICOM/VMS free
1st sunday in the month free
Tuesday - Saturday, 4.00 - 5.00 p.m. free
1sr wednesday in the month, 7.00 - 8.00 p.m. free