Evocatively displayed in authentic historic rooms, this permanent exhibition presents a cross-section of Basel Fasnacht (carnival): figures, masks, ancient documents and a "Fasnachtbeiz" (carnival restaurant) recreate the colourful irreverent atmosphere that pervades an urban society.
Collection
Founded in 1904 by Prof. Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer the "Father of Swiss Ethnology", the European department, also known from 1944 to 1996 as the «Swiss Museum for Ethnology», contains an extremely wide range of objects from the 17th century up to the present day. It documents the most varied aspects and traditions of European folk culture, such as farm technology, ceramics, folk painting, toys and textiles as well as symbols of religious piety. The collection focuses in particular on the Alpine regions, southern and eastern Europe. - Also associated to the European department of the Museum der Kulturen is an extensive collection of items from Europe's past.
lic. phil. Dominik Wunderlin
dominik.wunderlin@bs.chFurther information
Photo gallery collection