Basel Minster

Basel Minster is built of the red sandstone that gives the whole of the old town its colour, standing on a terrace directly above the Rhine. The church was built between 1019 and 1500, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1356, and went through Romanesque and Gothic phases and a heavy nineteenth-century restoration, so the twin towers and the patterned roof tiles are as much the work of restorers as of medieval builders. Inside there is a wide, quiet nave, a crypt, and the tomb of Erasmus, who spent his last years in the city. The two cloisters on the south side are lined with grave slabs, and behind the choir the Pfalz terrace looks over the river to the far bank.

What you'll find

• The Galluspforte - the carved Romanesque doorway on the north side, the oldest sculpture on the building.
• The Pfalz terrace - the platform behind the choir with the Rhine bend below.
• The cloisters - two linked courtyards walled with centuries of carved grave slabs.
• The towers - the climb up narrow stairs for the roof tiles and the city view.

When to go

Any time of year, since the interest is mostly indoors, though the terrace and cloisters are pleasanter in warm weather. The towers are open only in the warmer months and close in bad weather. Services and concerts, including organ recitals, close parts of the church at short notice; check the board at the door.

Good to know

Much of what looks medieval is nineteenth-century restoration, and the interior was stripped of its decoration long ago, so it is plainer than the exterior suggests. The tower climb is tight and not for anyone uneasy in confined stairways. The terrace fills with people in good weather, and the square outside is a busy crossing point.

Nearby

Basel's old town, the Rhine ferries and the city's museum quarter are all within a few minutes on foot.

Key facts