In the Barfüsserkirche, the HMB has been exhibiting selected topics on the history of Basel from prehistory to the present day since 1894. One focus is on ecclesiastical works of art, the Basel Dance of Death, the Basel Cathedral Treasure and the exhibition Leaps in Time.

The Franciscans settled in Basel in 1231. The Bishop of Basel gave the Barfüsser monks, as the order was known, building land on the city wall in 1250, where a monastery and church were built by 1256. After just a few years, a new building was erected (1275-1309). The second Barfüsser church was moved to the north and, at 80 meters in length, was significantly larger than the first. It also stood on a 2-meter-high gravel embankment (which is why the remains of the first church lie in the basement today).

With the Reformation in 1529, the monastery became the property of the town. The monastery cemetery became Barfüsserplatz, the monastery housed parts of the hospital, poor relief and schools - the cloister was surrounded by the lunatic asylum. The church remained a reformed place of worship until 1794, after the choir, which had been partitioned off with a wooden wall, had been converted into a granary. From 1795, the church served as a warehouse and from 1799-1815 as a salt store - a good 300 tons of salt seeped into the floor of the church. Demolition of the monastery began in 1843 and from 1845-1865 the municipal department store was located on the site.

Unrealized plans for the church were Demolition, partial demolition, school building, indoor swimming pool, library or state archives, market hall or gymnasium. In the meantime, the building was used as a post office, a market, a pawnshop, a gantry and as a warehouse. Due to a lack of concrete plans and responsibility, the building was allowed to fall into disrepair. In 1888, the church was offered to the Swiss Confederation as the site of the planned National Museum - when the contract was awarded to Zurich, the church was once again abandoned.

Basel decided to set up the Historical Museum in the Barfüsserkirche and had it rebuilt between 1890 and 1894. In 1964, the salt damage (salt deposits 1799-1815) had reached threatening proportions and so a total renovation followed in 1975-1981, whereby a virtue was made of necessity and a basement was added to the church. The museum thus gained exhibition space for its growing collection.


Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.