Town Hall
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Why go
- Three pointed Gothic arches, two rows of Gothic windows and battlements.
- Coats of arms of the 12 cantons that formed the Confederation.
- Hans Bock’s painted scenes beneath the courtyard arcades and above a staircase, created in 1608–1609.
Opening hours
Today08:00 – 12:00Show all
Don't miss
- Child warriors, victory angels and JustitiaReliefs on the Marktplatz façade recall the council’s former judicial role.Marktplatz façade
- ClockMaster Wilhelm made the clock in 1511.Centre of the façade
- Entrance-hall ironworkThe iron gates at the entrance hall date to 1611.Entrance hall
Interesting facts3
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1537
A 1537 bronze plaque commemorates earlier floods of the now underground Birsig.
Rathaus (Basel) - Wikipedia -
Anthony Glaser made a series of stained-glass windows for the façade.
Municipio di Basilea - Wikipedia -
The local name Roothus can mean both “council house” and “red house,” referring to the red sandstone façade.
Basel Town Hall - Wikipedia
Shorts
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🇨🇭Basel Town HallGiulianos Way of Life
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Basel Town Hall / 14 May 2023Kannika M.
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Discovering the Enchanting Painted Courtyard of Basel's Town Halllloopdidu - the traveler
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Basel Town Hall Randhaus Hello from Switzerland! Rhine River Cruise s…guitar singapore travels Rapture!
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The Red Town Hall in Basel, SwitzerlandFood & Travel
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Discovering Basel's Historic Gem: A Tour of the Basel Town HallSwitzerland for you
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🇨🇭 #Basel, 16th century Town Hall, Switzerlandgenesis
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I don't think this could be topped. Basel town hall, just a beautiful…Window Seat Pete
History
Hans Holbein the Younger painted frescoes for the Great Council Chamber in 1522. The original decoration is lost, but fragments and preparatory drawings survive at Basel’s Kunstmuseum.
- 1290A political centre was established on this site.
- After the Basel earthquakeThe Richthaus was destroyed, along with its records and documents. The Palace of the Lords replaced it, and its surviving remains are the town hall’s oldest parts.
- 1503After Basel joined the Swiss Confederation, the Grand Council approved a new building.
- 1504–1514The new building was constructed beside the Palace of the Lords.
- 1517–1521The Palace of the Lords was raised, and the Great Council Chamber was established there.
Show all
- 1606–1608The northern Vordere Kanzlei was built.
- 1898–1904A tower wing and a bay-window wing were added.
- 1901–1904The old council chamber was replaced by a new chamber with adjoining rooms.
Sources: Basel Town Hall - Wikipedia · Rathaus (Basel) - Wikipedia · Hôtel de ville de Bâle - Wikipedia · Municipio di Basilea - Wikipedia · checked 26 Sep 2026
- Website
- bs.ch/
- Phone
- +41 61 267 86 54
Questions and answers
What offices does Basel Town Hall house?
It houses the state chancellery, parliamentary services and part of the presidential department.
Who commissioned Basel Town Hall?
The artisans’ guild commissioned it after pressing Basel to join the Confederation.
What is the oldest surviving part of Basel Town Hall?
The oldest surviving fabric comes from the Palace of the Lords, built after the earthquake destroyed the Richthaus.
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