Sculptures

In the place where the stage of the old Town Theater formerly stood, Jean Tinguely placed in 1977 some amusing machine sculptures in an enormous pool of water.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, freight transport on the Rhine - as far upstream as Basel - was successfully developed at the initiative of Rudolf Gelpke (1873-1940).

The Messeturm, with a height of 105 meters, is a new symbol of the city of Basel.

Meet Helvetia, the allegorical female figure who has symbolised Switzerland for hundreds of years. She sits at the end of the Middle Bridge on the Kleinbasel side, gazing thoughtfully down at the Rhine, with her suitcase packed and her spear resting at her side.

In 1977, Jean Tinguely created with his playful machine sculptures - which is placed in a large water basin - a new landmark for the city .

Visit the most hard-working man in Basel, the Hammering Man on the Aeschenplatz. This 13.5 m high artwork by the American sculptor Borofsky has been swinging his hammer since 1989. The Hammering Man is 15 centimetres thick and weighs nearly 8 tonnes.

The massive iron sculpture "Intersection" consists of four steel plates 3.6 m high and stands in the Theaterplatz with the Elisabethenkirche in the background.

At the entrance to Switzerland's most important art collection, you will be greeted by Rodin's Burghers of Calais. In the inner courtyard of the Museum of Art there is also the modern Bistro Coumou.