Feuerwehrmuseum Basel
Switzerland’s first fire brigade museum in the former dormitories of the professional fire brigade, with firefighting technology from the Middle Ages to today; free admission.
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About the museum
Basel is among the cities with the oldest fire brigades and, in the summer of 1957, after years of preparation, realised the idea of its own fire brigade museum. It is the first museum of its kind in Switzerland and has been recognised as the Swiss Fire Brigade Museum since 1967. It is devoted to the technical development of firefighting.
The exhibition is spread over two floors in the former dormitories of the crew in the Lützelhof, the base of the Basel professional fire brigade. History is experienced right where it took place. The objects go far back beyond the founding of the Pompier Corps in 1845, in part to the 13th century: medieval hand pumps and fire buckets, a wide collection of helmets and numerous items up to the modern oxygen rebreather.
The exhibits come from all over Switzerland and in part from abroad, but mostly from the Basel region. The Basel-Stadt steam pump and the vintage fire engines, which once played a central role in the city’s fire protection, can currently be seen only at special events because of limited space. The museum belongs to the Basel-Stadt Fire Brigade, whose professional fire brigade was established in 1882 as the first in Switzerland and has been based in the Lützelhof since 1903.
Highlights
- Switzerland’s first fire brigade museum, opened in 1957
- Medieval hand pumps and fire buckets
- Wide collection of helmets up to modern breathing protection
- Exhibition in the former dormitories of the fire station in the Lützelhof
- Free admission
Permanent exhibition
- Dauerausstellung zur Geschichte des Löschwesens – Spread over two floors, hand pumps, fire buckets, helmets and equipment document the technical development of the fire brigade from the Middle Ages to the present.
- Founded
- 1957
- Operated by
- Berufsfeuerwehr Basel (Rettung Basel-Stadt, Justiz- und Sicherheitsdepartement)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission according to the Museen Basel portal; fees are charged for tours in accordance with the cantonal fee ordinance.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is not accessible.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Universität
Tram 3 or bus 34 to “Universität”; bus 30/33 to “Spalentor”.
Access via the driveway at Spalenvorstadt 11 into the Lützelhof; address Kornhausgasse 18.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tours of the museum and/or the fire station for groups of 10 to 40 people (duration 1.5 to 2 hours, from the 3rd year of primary school, in German); dates via bf-info@jsd.bs.ch. The entrance is in the Lützelhof, the inner courtyard of the professional fire brigade; the way from the driveway at Spalenvorstadt 11 is signposted. Emergency vehicles and vintage vehicles cannot be viewed. |
