Basel's Historical Churches (Self Guided), Basel

Basel is the city of churches. Indeed, nowhere else in Switzerland will you find as many of them, both old and new, as here. Despite serious losses to the Reformation period, a good number of local temples have survived. Today, the vast majority of religious buildings, including the listed medieval Basel Minster, belong to the Evangelical Reformed Church.

The towers and spires of ancient churches lend a great deal of character to Basel's skyline and tell much about the city history. Despite most of the congregations being Protestant, their architectural styles remain diverse. Here are some of the most notable ones:

Elisabethenkirche – a well-detailed 19th-century example of Swiss Gothic Revival style; home of the first Swiss "Open Church" (Offene Kirche Elizabethan) and a key pilgrimage center;

Martinskirche (St. Martin's Church) – considered to be the oldest parish in Basel; also serves as a historic concert hall; the Martinskirche bell traditionally rings on the opening Saturday of the Basel Autumn Fair;

Peterskirche (St. Peter Church) – one of the oldest churches in Basel, known for its austere ascetic appearance, interesting medieval frescoes inside, and a valuable historical organ;

Predigerkirche (Preacher's Church) – built between 1233 and 1237 as a monastery church of the Dominican order; one of the famous local pilgrimage centers.

For a closer look at these and other historical temples of Basel, take this self-guided walking tour.