Barfüsserplatz

The Barfüsserplatz

The Basel audio-guided tour leads you to the Barfüsserplatz, whose name literally means "square of the bare feet", in reference to the Franciscan monks who lived here in the Middle Ages.

From Franciscans to the Historical Museum

Installed in this quarter from the thirteenth century, the Franciscans had built a monastery and a church there. As their order advocated simplicity and humility, they were called the Barfüsser, the "bare feet", a name that remained attached to the square. The imposing former church of the Franciscans, in Gothic style, still dominates the place. After the Reformation, the monastery was abandoned and the building served in turn as a warehouse and a covered market, before being transformed in 1894 into the Historical Museum of Basel, which today retraces nearly two thousand years of local history.

What there is to see

The former church of the Franciscans, become the Historical Museum, houses collections of medieval objects and testimonies of daily life at different periods. To its right, the Stadtcasino, a large concert hall renowned for its acoustics, regularly hosts classical concerts. Lively and central, the Barfüsserplatz is one of the musical and artistic hearts of Basel, ideal for taking the pulse of the city.

Practical information

The Barfüsserplatz is in the heart of Basel. It is a public space freely accessible at all hours and on the level. The Historical Museum and the Stadtcasino that border it can be visited or open according to their own hours and programmes, liable to vary.

What does the name Barfüsserplatz mean?

"Square of the bare feet", in reference to the Franciscan monks, nicknamed the Barfüsser, who lived here in the Middle Ages.

What does the former Franciscan church house?

The Historical Museum of Basel since 1894, which retraces nearly two thousand years of local history.