Basel Minster

Basel Minster is a large medieval cathedral in the centre of Basel, Switzerland, built in red sandstone and notable for its twin towers; the site traces its history to a cathedral consecrated in 1019. It is one of Basel’s principal landmarks and dominates the city’s historic skyline.

The Minster’s exterior features steep roofs and ornate Gothic details and the building offers elevated viewpoints over the Rhine. The south-west viewing terrace called the Pfalz provides clear panoramas of the river and the Old Town, while the cathedral’s towers give a broader city view for visitors who climb them. The cathedral precinct opens onto Münsterplatz, which is used for markets and public events.

Originally founded as a Romanesque cathedral, much of the present Gothic fabric dates from rebuilding after the earthquake of 1356. The church served as the seat of the bishops of Basel until the Reformation in the early 16th century and subsequently continued in use as a major parish and civic church.

The Minster stands on a hill above the Rhine in Basel’s Altstadt, directly adjacent to Münsterplatz and a short walk from the Mittlere Brücke that crosses the river.

• Pfalz viewpoint: The south-west terrace known as the Pfalz offers one of the clearest views over the Rhine and the Old Town.
• Central location: The cathedral sits directly on Münsterplatz in Basel's Altstadt, immediately above the Rhine and within easy walking distance of the Mittlere Brücke.

What to See #

• Pfalz (viewing terrace): A terraced viewpoint on the south-west side of the Minster that gives open views across the Rhine and the Old Town and is a traditional vantage for photographs of the river and city.
• Cloister: A medieval cloister attached to the cathedral with carved capitals and funerary monuments, historically part of the cathedral complex and visible from Münsterplatz.
• West towers: The pair of characteristic towers on the west front that define the Basel skyline and provide elevated views over the city for those who climb them.