Set on a hill above the Rhine, Basel’s monumental cathedral is a conspicuous and majestic presence in the city. With dark red sandstone walls and patterned roof tiles, it is a vivid monument to Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
t The church’s exterior, with its patterned roof atop sturdy sandstone walls
Experience Northern Switzerland
t The Basel Münster, a heritage site of national significance
The church that originally stood on this site was built in the 8th century, but the present cathedral was begun in the 12th century. Partly damaged by an earthquake in 1356, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style, although elements of the earlier building were also incorporated into the structure. In the 16th century, as a result of the Reformation, the cathedral was stripped of almost all its furnishings and decoration. However, some fine Romanesque and Gothic sculptures survive, as does the church’s 19th-century stained glass and the beautiful 14th-century frescoes in the crypt. On the south side of the cathedral are peaceful Gothic cloisters, with several tombs and epitaphs that give this part of the complex its dignified, contemplative character.
Did You Know?
The hill on which the church is located was a Celtic oppidum (fortified town) in the 1st century BC.