Munster, Basel is the 11th century church that stands in the old city premises. Built of red sandstone, the tower collapsed in the Middle Ages and was rebuilt in the archetypal Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles. Rich in ornamentation, the Munster features as one of the primary Basel attractions.
Munster in Basel was consecrated in 1019 by Emperor Heinrich II. The church was destroyed by a massive earthquake in 1356 and was later rebuilt. Some of the stonework done in white, that marks the tower of St George, was part of the original church structure. Above the main portal of the church stands the statue of the founder with his wife and a model of the church on his palm. The statue of the foolish Virgin, tempted and possessed by her satanic seducer, stands beside the statue of the founder.
The interiors of Munster at Basel are intricately decorated with stone carvings retelling the stories of virgins and prophets. The tomb of Erasmus, the Renaissance humanist, who breathed his last in Basel in 1536, is found in the northern aisle. The tomb of wife of Rudolf of Hapsburg, Queen Anna von Hohenberg and her son are also placed in the church.
The Munster of Basel also treasures the Romanesque bas-relief built in the 12th century. Known as the St Vincent panel, the relief depicts the life and death of the 4th century martyr. The main pulpit of the church was carved out of a single stone in 1486. The arches around the choir are intricately decorated with fantastical creatures and carved elephants. Ambling through the cloisters, one would reach the bastion that provides a captivating view of the Rhine and Black Forest.
Munster, Basel functions as an Evangelical Reformed church. It is open between Easter and October on all week days from 10 A.M to 5 P.M. In these months, the cathedral remains open on Saturdays, between 10 A.M and 4 P.M and on Sundays, between 1 P.M to 5 P.M. The timings of the church change between the months of October and Easter. From Monday to Saturday, the church remains open between 11 A.M and 4 P.M and on Sundays, between 2 and 4 P.M.
