Schweizerisches Museum für Papier, Schrift und Druck

About the museum

The Basel paper mill stands on the St. Alban pond, a mill race that has powered mills since the 13th century. The main building, the Gallician Mill, served as a grain mill until 1428 and was converted to a paper mill in 1453 by Anton Gallizian. Over the centuries, various papermaking families worked here.

The Basel Paper Mill Foundation, founded in 1971 as a private foundation, turned the house into a museum. The Christoph Merian Foundation restored the Gallician and Footbridge mills and handed them over to the foundation in 1980; on the same day, September 19, 1980, the museum opened. It bears the subtitle "Swiss Museum for Paper, Script and Print" and was renovated and expanded in 2011. The collections are based in part on Walter F. Tschudin's paper history collection, Alfred Nadler's collection, and the decorative papers of the former Basel Applied Arts Museum.

The museum guides visitors through four floors from the history of paper and writing through typecasting and letterpress printing to the finished book. Educational exhibitions alternate with lively workshops in which staff work on historical machines and visitors can make their own paper, write with pen, set type, print or marbleize. The house employs people on IV pensions at inclusive workplaces. It is supported by the foundation, backed by the Christoph Merian Foundation and the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft.

Highlights

• Make paper yourself at the museum
• Printing, typesetting and marbling in original workshops
• Late medieval paper mill with water wheel on the mill stream (Dych)
• Collection with some over a thousand years old rarities
• Museum shop with products made on site
• Papiermühle restaurant with terrace by the pond

Permanent exhibitions

• Vom Papier zum Buch – Over four floors the museum leads through the history of paper, script and writing, continuing through typecasting and letterpress printing to the finished book.
• Lebendige Geschichte – Original workshops with historic machines where craftspeople demonstrate and visitors can make their own paper, print and marbleize.

Founded

1980

Operated by

Stiftung Basler Papiermühle

Director

Britta Graf

Admission & discounts

Museum recognizes according to BaselCard, Museums-PASS-Musées, Swiss Museums Pass, VMS and ICOM membership as well as KulturLegi (not for group admissions).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Despite the protected late medieval mill, almost all rooms are wheelchair accessible; floors accessible by lift. Staff assist daily on all levels.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 6+

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Museum recommends visits from age 6; pre-school groups cannot participate in interactive stations for safety reasons. Family tickets available.

Getting there & parking

Year-round St. Alban ferry from the Klein Basel bank to St. Alban valley; also arrival by water taxi possible.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Papiermühle restaurant with lunch menu, homemade cake, sandwiches and seats by the mill stream (reservation +41 61 272 48 48); museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 70 guests.

Event rooms "Atelier 39" (Zunziger Mill, 80 m²) and in museum building (3rd floor, 80 m²): up to 45 people with table, approx. 70 with concert seating; upon request also mill room or entire museum.

Plan your visit