Burckhardt Walk

This tour begins by the Marktplatz and takes you along Freie Strasse. After passing by the chancel of the Barfüsserkirche, you will arrive at Theaterplatz. This is characterized by the contrast between the modern theatre building and the neo-Gothic Elisabethenkirche – something that culture enthusiast Jacob Burckhardt would surely have loved. The whole of Basel seems to meet at the Tinguely fountain, with its playful aquatic elements. And next door, the Kunsthalle’s garden restaurant invites guests to come and relax under its canopy of chestnut trees. The Barfüsserplatz is a hub of city life and the church there houses the Historisches Museum Basel. The square in front of the medieval church is a popular venue for open-air events and markets in Basel. From the hustle and bustle of “Barfi”, as it’s known by the locals, the route leads you through the well-kept medieval alleys of Heuberg and Spalenberg, which host small shops and exclusive boutiques. The city tour ends back on the colourful Marktplatz.

Jacob Burckhardt (1818 – 1897). Professor in Basel, cultural historian and art scholar.