Basel's Historical Churches (Self Guided), Basel

Saint Elisabeth Church is an impressive Swiss Gothic Revival-style church. It was completed in 1864 and features a 72 meter (236 feet) tall spire. Saint Elisabeth Church was the first church built in Basel after the Reformation.

Wealthy businessman Christoph Merian sponsored the church's construction. Christoph Merian and his wife Margareth Burckhardt-Merian are buried in black marble sarcophagi in the church's crypt.

Saint Elisabeth's most attractive interior feature is its beautiful stained glass windows. The organ was built in 1862 and has been expanded to feature 41 working stops.

The church is now home to the first Swiss Open Church. The church caters to urban people from all backgrounds and supports the LGBT community.

The church hosts a special service during the Carnival of Basel. It also hosts modern fashion shows, panel discussions, and punk concerts.

Saint Elisabeth Church has an on-site cafe with outdoor seating.

Saint Leonard's Church (Leonhardskirche) is a remarkable example of Basel's architectural and religious history. Perched on a hill overlooking Barfüsserplatz, the church traces its roots to the Romanesque period, with its crypt dating back to around 1080, and its consecration occurring in 1118. This crypt, adorned with wall paintings and medieval graves, is the oldest surviving part of the original three-aisled basilica.

The devastating earthquake of 1356 destroyed much of the Romanesque church, prompting a Gothic-style reconstruction. By 1360, the new basilica emerged, featuring a flat-roofed choir, two chapels (Marien Chapel and Saint Theobald Chapel), and a bell tower. The transformation into a three-nave Gothic hall church began in 1481, culminating in the star-vaulted ceiling of the nave by 1521, as noted by an inscription from 1492.

In the Reformation era, Saint Leonard’s transitioned into one of Basel's four Protestant churches. By 1525, the city of Basel had acquired the church and monastery. The church avoided much of the iconoclasm of 1529, as its altars and statues had already been stored, including a significant altar by Konrad Witz. The original monastery complex has almost entirely vanished, save for the cemetery hall dating to 1450.

Saint Leonard's Church underwent a major archaeological and restoration project between 1964 and 1968, ensuring its preservation as a historical and architectural landmark. Today, it serves as the French Reformed Church of Basel, embodying a blend of Romanesque, high Gothic, and late Gothic elements.

The church's integration with the city’s medieval fortifications provides a commanding view of its upper structure from Barfüsserplatz, where the best of medieval Basel unfolds. Once neighboring the Lohnhof prison, the area has since been revitalized, adding a layer of contemporary life to this centuries-old edifice.

Basel Minster, one of Basel's most prominent landmarks, boasts striking red sandstone walls and vibrant roof tiles that have stood as a testament to the city's architectural heritage since the 11th century. This cathedral, completed and modified over nearly five centuries between 1019 and 1500, remains among the oldest structures in Basel, with roots that stretch back even further. Beneath the current cathedral, excavations have uncovered remnants from the Celtic period, including ancient walls, gates, and streets, revealing the hill’s long-standing significance.

The first cathedral in Basel was built in the ninth century by Bishop Haito, with a more substantial building consecrated in 1019 in the presence of Henry II, the Holy Roman Emperor, lending the church its nickname, the Heinrich Munster. This Romanesque structure, however, did not remain untouched by time or disaster. In the 13th century, the Minster underwent reconstruction, only to suffer extensive damage in the 1356 earthquake. Rebuilt in the Gothic style, the church was re-consecrated in 1363, marking a new chapter in its architectural evolution.

Two impressive towers define the Minster's skyline: the Georgsturm, built in 1429, and the Martinsturm, completed in 1500. These towers, named after the knightly saints George and Martin, feature notable medieval artwork, including a 1372 depiction of Saint George confronting a small dragon. Visitors who ascend the 242 steps of either tower are rewarded with sweeping views of Basel’s historic cityscape.

Basel Minster also played a unique role in history when, in 1440, it hosted the election of Felix V, recognized as an antipope, during a period of religious schism. Later, during the Reformation in the 1500s, Basel saw significant change, as the bishop was expelled, the monastery dissolved, and many religious artworks were destroyed. One such casualty was a statue of the Virgin Mary, which once adorned the central porch, now left empty. However, the scenes of prophets and kings on the main porch remain intact, as do statues of Emperor Henry II and Empress Kunigunde, preserving a glimpse of the Minster’s storied past.

Why You Should Visit:
The Basel Minster is an architecturally stunning cathedral with a long and storied history. The stained glass windows, arched ceiling, and organ are beautiful.

Tips:
Don't miss climbing one of the towers and enjoying dramatic views over Basel.

Saint Martin's Church (Martinskirche) is the oldest parish church in Basel, perched on Cathedral Hill (Münsterhügel) in the heart of the Old Town. Its origins trace back to 1101/1103, with parts of its Romanesque predecessor believed to date as far back as the 8th century. Over centuries, it evolved into a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture, blending elements of its Carolingian and medieval heritage.

The church’s lower tower sections and west façade date to 1287, while its choir and side façades showcase the artistic developments of the late 14th century. A mural above the south portal, painted by Hans Rohner in 1922, depicts Saint Martin of Tours, the church’s patron, adding a vibrant historical touch to its exterior.

Saint Martin’s Church holds a pivotal place in the history of the Reformation in Basel. In 1529, reformer Johannes Oecolampadius preached here in German for the first time, marking a significant shift in religious practice. Following extensive renovations in 1851, the church transitioned from a sacred space to a cultural hub. Its outstanding acoustics have since made it a premier concert venue, hosting orchestras and choirs in a space redefined by its history.

The church is also home to numerous epitaphs and an atmospheric interior that invites both reflection and admiration. Its bell plays a unique role in Basel’s cultural calendar, ringing to mark the opening of the Herbstmesse (autumn fair) and the Morgenstreich at Carnival.

Saint Martin’s Church embodies Basel’s deep historical roots and vibrant cultural life. Its location on Cathedral Hill offers visitors an excellent starting point for exploring Basel’s rich architectural and artistic heritage, blending spirituality, history, and culture in one remarkable landmark.

Saint Peter's Church (Peterskirche) in Basel stands as one of the city's oldest and most historically significant religious structures. Consecrated to Saints Peter and Paul, it has served as a Protestant Evangelical Reformed church since 1529. Nestled on the western edge of the Birsig Valley in Grossbasel, it is one of the four original parish churches in the old town.

The church's origins trace back to the Carolingian period, around the 9th century, likely founded as a cemetery church. By 1035, it became a parish church, and in 1233, it was expanded into a canons' monastery. The tower on the north side of the choir was constructed in 1270 and received its turret in 1501–1502.

The 1356 Basel earthquake left the church in ruins, necessitating extensive reconstruction. The choir was redesigned and vaulted between 1477 and 1481, featuring twelve keystones symbolizing the apostles. Around this time, the large east window and the roof turret were added.

Inside, the church is adorned with artistic treasures. Elaborately carved choir stalls, crafted by Ulrich Bruder and his Basel team between 1494 and 1498, showcase late Gothic craftsmanship. The red sandstone baptismal font, created in 1513 based on Jorg Syrlin the Younger’s designs, retains its original foot and basin. The pulpit, attributed to Franz Pergo, dates to around 1620.

Prominent figures are commemorated within its walls, including the printer Johann Froben, whose grave slab features inscriptions by Erasmus of Rotterdam and Sebastian Munster. The outer walls bear epitaphs for mathematicians Johann I Bernoulli, Nikolaus I Bernoulli, and Daniel Bernoulli.

As Basel's richest church after the Munster, Saint Peter's is a living monument to the city's religious and artistic heritage, continuing to inspire with its historic architecture and spiritual significance.

The Preacher's Church (Predigerkirche) stands as a remarkable Christian Catholic church in Basel, nestled near the University Hospital in the suburban quarter. Originally built between 1233 and 1237 as a Dominican monastery church, it underwent significant Gothic transformation during a reconstruction period from 1262 to 1269. Its choir, consecrated in 1269 by Albertus Magnus, Bishop of Regensburg, marked its prominence as one of the first Gothic-style churches along the Upper Rhine.

The church's history bears the scars of the 1356 Basel earthquake, which necessitated extensive renovations. During this period, frescoes depicting Mary, John the Baptist, and Dominican saint Vincent Ferrer were created. In the 15th century, it served as a key venue for participants of the Council of Basel (1431–1449).

Distinctive features include the People Church (Leutkirche), separated from the choir by a partially transparent rood screen, and an early 15th-century baptismal font adorned with rose motifs. The vaults' keystones showcase simple leaf patterns and symbols of the evangelists. A stone bell tower, crowned with an open lantern and tracery, replaced the original wooden roof turret in 1423 under the direction of Master Johannes, known as Cun, with local execution by Hans Bofferlin.

The church endured the destructive iconoclasm of 1529, losing nearly all its furnishings, and the monastery was dissolved. Over time, it served various functions: the choir became a fruit and salt store in the 17th century, and its former monastery garden housed Basel University’s botanical collection from 1692 to 1836. After significant renovations in 1876–1877, the church found a new purpose with the Christian Catholic community. Its treasures include a gilded medieval cross and three contemporary icons from 2003 depicting the Mother of God, baby Jesus, and the archangels Gabriel and Michael.

The church’s organ is another highlight. Built by Johann Andreas Silbermann between 1767 and 1769, it has undergone several relocations and upgrades, most recently in 1979 by Metzler Orgelbau. The instrument features 28 stops, mechanical actions, and a baroque-style west gallery, continuing the church’s legacy as a place of spiritual and cultural resonance.