Basel Historical Museum - Haus zum Kirschgarten
Basel Historical Museum - Haus zum Kirschgarten
Basel Historical Museum - Haus zum Kirschgarten
4.5
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Haus zum Kirschgarten was built for the silk ribbon manufacturer and army colonel Johann Rudolf Burckhardt between 1775 and 1780. The architect Johann Ulrich Buchel designed a mansion worthy of his client's wealth and status which is also a tour de force of early Neoclassical style, influenced in part by Masonic concepts. The mansion has been a museum of domestic culture since 1951. Most of the interior is devoted to eighteenth- and nineteenth-century period rooms formerly inhabited by Basel’s affluent bourgeoisie. But the museum also houses several special collections and hosts mini-exhibitions, such as that on Sheikh Ibrahim.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Vorstädte
How to get there
- Basel SBB Station • 8 min walk
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4.5
59 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
18
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
1
CRISTINA Z
Bucharest, Romania66 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We liked the most this museum in Basel. It has a lot of expositions and a lot of history. Alow 1-2 hours to see it properly.
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vickiebypass
Stamford, CT236 contributions
Apr 2023
The Historisches Museum Basel was another great museum chock-full of things and they also offered an iPad which provided copious detailed information in English. It was the home of a wealthy businessman and his wife in the 18th and 19th century. They have a huge collection of antique clocks and pocket watches and a special exhibit which was faience china. In addition to china in various floral patterns, the main feature of the exhibit was tureens made to look like real objects - like a wild boar complete with his teeth and a red tongue; a huge head of cabbage; small apples that were mini terrines; ducks; melons; and more. Rich folks bought these because they were very expensive so it showed their wealth and made quite a statement on the dinner table.
The upper two floors were the residence rooms – the first floor was the fancy-schmancy rooms where visitors were entertained. The second floor was the family living quarters including kitchen. All decorated with appropriate furniture and wall coverings, curtains; each room had a tile stove – generally very tall which are called towers stoves. The kitchen was interesting because they had a wall of copper cookware including molds for fish terrines, lobster terrines, cakes and more, not to mention pots & pans - shades of Downton Abbey. The ground floor was designed for visitors to drive their carriage right through very tall doors into the house and then proceed up a very, very grand stone staircase to the upper floor which was where they would be received, entertained and dined.
There's a lot to see here and it's one of the 3 Basel Historical Museums - they all seem to have huge collections and be very well organized. Love the iPad tablets with English descriptions.
The upper two floors were the residence rooms – the first floor was the fancy-schmancy rooms where visitors were entertained. The second floor was the family living quarters including kitchen. All decorated with appropriate furniture and wall coverings, curtains; each room had a tile stove – generally very tall which are called towers stoves. The kitchen was interesting because they had a wall of copper cookware including molds for fish terrines, lobster terrines, cakes and more, not to mention pots & pans - shades of Downton Abbey. The ground floor was designed for visitors to drive their carriage right through very tall doors into the house and then proceed up a very, very grand stone staircase to the upper floor which was where they would be received, entertained and dined.
There's a lot to see here and it's one of the 3 Basel Historical Museums - they all seem to have huge collections and be very well organized. Love the iPad tablets with English descriptions.
Written 4 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan B
London, UK160 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
Really good insight into wealthy 18th century life in Basel. Rooms are beautifully maintained and restored. Impressive watch/clocks and toys/games displays too. Helpful staff too. My suggestion would be to open up the entrance more as I originally assumed the museum was shut from the closed solid doors 😊
Written 24 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zuv
Bucharest, Romania27,129 contributions
Dec 2022
For me it was the most interesting museum in Basel. They have an impressive collection of old clocks and other instruments for measuring time, astrolabes, compasses, globes.
A series of rooms are set up as they were when the mansion housing the museum was built, to help you get an idea of how people lived in those times.
You can also see old furniture, old kitchenware, porcelain, toys.
You need at least two hours to visit it.
The museum also has a small garden, with a gazebo, very nice!s!
One minus: the lack of descriptions in English.
A series of rooms are set up as they were when the mansion housing the museum was built, to help you get an idea of how people lived in those times.
You can also see old furniture, old kitchenware, porcelain, toys.
You need at least two hours to visit it.
The museum also has a small garden, with a gazebo, very nice!s!
One minus: the lack of descriptions in English.
Written 21 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
permia
Ireland40,654 contributions
Sep 2022
A fine palatial abode gives an absorbing glimpse onto the lives of a wealthy cohort of the late 18th century. In this case, for the textile magnate Johann Rudolf Burckhardt.
Over a few floors luxurious rooms have fine furnishings. Ornate items abound, including furniture, four poster bed and timepieces.
With the only source of heating such a large house being open fires and stoves, beautiful examples of the latter are spread throughout.
Staff were very attentive and gave some fascinating insights. One such was that despite having an expansive extensive abode, in the cold months residents often lived and slept in the smallest rooms.
A special exhibition of clocks and watches was great to see. Exquisite pieces of the great Swiss craft were delightfully on show.
Over a few floors luxurious rooms have fine furnishings. Ornate items abound, including furniture, four poster bed and timepieces.
With the only source of heating such a large house being open fires and stoves, beautiful examples of the latter are spread throughout.
Staff were very attentive and gave some fascinating insights. One such was that despite having an expansive extensive abode, in the cold months residents often lived and slept in the smallest rooms.
A special exhibition of clocks and watches was great to see. Exquisite pieces of the great Swiss craft were delightfully on show.
Written 1 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan
Basel, Switzerland73 contributions
Sep 2021
This is one of my favorites in Basel. They have made rooms to look as they would have in the age. So you feel like you have moved back in time. Wonderful. Also, pretty empty - no crowds.
Written 13 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carolinapreta
Odense, Denmark36 contributions
Oct 2021
A museum of domestic Swiss culture that gives the visitor a vivid impression of how Basel's affluent residents of the 18th and 19th century lived. Interesting even for kids. Having the Swiss Pass given by hotels adults pay CHF 5 while children are free.
However the museum misses having rooms and items details in English.
However the museum misses having rooms and items details in English.
Written 28 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean-Carl D
31 contributions
Mar 2021
This patrician townhouse was the seat of the Burkhardt family and was built in the 18th century in early neo-classical style. The furniture and decorations date from the 18th and 19th centuries and give a good impression of how a patrician family lived at the time. There is also an interesting collection of watches and clocks manufactured in Basel.
Written 4 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Douglas645
Horsham, UK210 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
We had a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours here. There is lots to see : timepieces, porcelain, toys and how Basel houses were furnished. It is a beautiful house. As an added bonus there is a written English language guide on each floor which is well written..
Written 16 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judith B
Doncaster, United Kingdom25 contributions
May 2019
This house is so worth a visit with so much to see. Unfortunately we ran out of time so weren’t able to see the full range of exhibits. There is plenty of information about each room and its beautiful contents as well as a tablet for some of the exhibits. It wasn’t easy to find (we needed help with directions from the Tourist Information Office) but I am so glad we persevered. The house has been furnished with items from other Basel houses but is all of the period and in beautiful condition. We will definitely go back if we return to Basel.
Written 31 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingBASEL HISTORICAL MUSEUM - HAUS ZUM KIRSCHGARTEN: Tickets, Tours & Things to Know (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Basel Historical Museum - Haus zum Kirschgarten
- Basel Historical Museum - Haus zum Kirschgarten is open:
- Wed - Sun 11:00 - 17:00
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