Top Rated Attracties in Bazel

The foundations for the Kunstmuseum were laid when the city of Basel purchased the Amerbachsche Kabinett. This private collection, which boasted works by Holbein among others, was the world's first publicly owned one. Work by Witz, Schongauer, Cranach, Grünewald and others also displays the renaissance's rich artistic traditions. 19th-century art is also featured with Arnold Böcklin's work at the forefront. He did, after all come from Basel. Marble steps take visitors to the museum's upper floors. 20th-century art by greats such as Leger, Braque and Picasso can be found here as can abstract expressionist and pop art pieces. The building itself is almost cubic. Situated near the Wettsteingbridge, it also houses a library and copper-plate engraving cabinet.

The Museum for contemporary art is housed in a modern building next to the river Rhine and its collection brings together pieces from the Emanuel-Hoffman foundation and Basel's public collection. The museum was opened in 1980 to make these collections available for public viewing. Contemporary artists from the beginning of the 1960s to the present day are represented. Josef Beuys, Bruce Nauman and Rosmarie Trockel are a few greats whose work is on display as is that of American artists, such as Robert Gober and Matthew Barney. The museum also holds special exhibitions on a regular basis, and to gain extra insight into an exhibition, patrons can take advantage of the calendar of events, which includes films, lectures and the like.

Who knows if Jean Tinguely would have believed, had you told him that his creations would once be housed in such noble rooms? The museum building was opened by Mario Botta in 1996, and is sponsored by the local chemical company, Hoffman La Roche. Even the garden of the tower houses work by Tinguely in the shape of a fountain. A bigger version can be found on the Theaterplatz. Tinguely loved to make things, and the museum is full of his moving machine sculptures, and sculptures that you can sometimes walk through. Children and adults alike love this museum and various exhibitions which highlight works by other artists similar to Tinguely complement the permanent exhibits. Check website for more details.

Located in the Swiss town of Münchenstein, the Watermill Museum Brüglingen is a historic 16th-century watermill that has now been converted into a museum with functioning grinding stones equipment and antique displays. Visitors are taken through the various wood and stone machines and are shown a live process of grinding the grains with the mill powered by the water wheel. Owned and maintained by the Meriangarten society, the museum is open daily from 8.00a to sunset and has free admission.

Museum für Musikautomaten is home to a multitude of musical machines that make this museum a popular tourist hub of the country. The museum houses a collection of machines and trinkets that play music, including music boxes and jewelery. With its wide range of musical clocks, dials, watches and instruments among a range of other musical inventions, this museum will amaze you with its impressive collection.