Switzerland

   It is difficult in actual sense to describe cultural capital of Switzerland or University City or the heritage, cultural and historical city of Basel, Switzerland, in a few words/lines. River Rhine had been and is even today a key trade route. It enhances the quality of life of the locals, as well as of the visiting guest alike. It affords a natural link to the world beyond, as we see at drie landerreck (three lands meeting, namely, France, Germany & Switzerland,”Burghof Lorrach”) Famous Basel Ferries began taking passengers across the Rhine some 150 years ago.

     Romans settled in the region in 40 B.C. During medieval ages church council, founding of oldest Swiss university in 1460. It was also the city of humanist learning and also centres for handicraft, printing and paper production. The St Alban Tal has still today has the vintage paper mill functioning, a huge open space for tanning of leather exists for tourists to enjoy.

     The rich cultural wealth of Swiss country is now preserved in about 40 museums covering diverse field, out of which majority of them are in Basel. The museums collection of artefacts and architectural master pieces reflect the incredibility, tolerance and cosmopolitan view of life as also open mindedness of the people of Swiss people in general and Basel in particular. The cultural heritage of the country is preserved with utmost pride, some of the churches of yester years have been used to preserve the items at various places.

     We in our tour of about 3 months plus period, to the culturally rich country had the privilege of visiting very many of them, which gives the knowledge, an insight into the reality. Some are narrated as under: ----

     Dolls’ House Museum: -- There are three museums which house the variety of Dolls of yester year. The most famous being at Barfusserplatze.

     Historical Museum:--In the close vicinity of the dolls museum is the Historical museum which we visited the first. It is also an elegant church and Museum too. This

houses the Cathedral Treasury and one can view the most fascinating insight to the city’s past. Crowning glory of the museum being 1600 B. C. Nebra Sky Disc, once stolen by treasure hunters was seized by the police of Basel.

     Swiss Architecture Museum:-- The museum has unique collection from the era of classical modernity. It has spectacular selections of special exhibits.

     Museum of Contemporary Art:--This museum is first of its kind in the world.

     Kunst Museum Basel: -- The museum houses the oldest public art collections in the world .It is a museum of fine arts. The marvellous artistic works from Holbein to Picasso are seen at this museum gallery.

     Pharmaceutical Museum: -- This museum is show casing the industry of pharmacy which has made Basel rich. It has been set in a wonderful old house, said to be having world’s largest collection about the history of pharmacy.

     Tinguely Museum: -- The museum has the most artistic collection of the famous Swiss iron sculptor, Jean Tinguely. (The museum of fine arts—1925-1991).

     Sculpture Hall: -- Here one would find one self amid the collection from the four of the great ancient cultures of the world, namely Mediterranean region-- Egypt, Greece, Etruria and Roam. The museum boasts of complete collection of the Parthenon in Athens.

     Antique Museum Basel:--This museum was founded in 1961, houses some 120 selected work of art pieces dating back from 3rd millennium BC to300 AD of Greek civilisation. Also are some Italian, Etruscan and Roman origin. Sculptures and Ceramics, (Greek Vases) form the core of collection. Bronze statuettes, Clay figurines, gold jewellery and coins. This is also one of the five large municipal museums in the Canton of Basel. The uniqueness of the collection is that majority of the pieces are gifts from private collectors.

     Toy Museum in Riehen: -- The Wettstein house originally belonged to the monastery of Wettingen; it was later acquired by the mayor of Basel, Johann Rudolf Wettstein, around 1640 and completely redeveloped. It is now the property of Riehen Civil Parish. The toy manufacturers took advantage of technology in play rooms, advancement in industrial production; consequently most toys reflect their time. Old tin plate toys are specially prized by collectors. The year 1835 saw the opening of first German steam railway, it was the turning point in the history of toy trains. It is home to Swiss made toys like hand carved wooden cows, countless family games to familiarise  the children from their country, wooden toys from Europe is added in the world of dolls.

     Toy Museum in Wettsetein haus:-- In 1972 the authorities set up the toy museum from donated European toys and collection donated by Hans-Peter His of Basel. It is one of the most important toy museums in existence. The museum is more than just a sanctuary for historical games and toys. It aims to simulate our imagination and promote the dialogue between the generations. 

     Anatomy Museum:-- Original dissections of human body parts, organs and tissues. Postnatal development of the human body, also are a large number of historically important specimens are housed in this museum.

     Roman Town (Augusta Raurica, Augst):-- The largest archaeological theme park . Out of 30 or more of the excavated attractions in this old Roman village some are open for public ----Roman theatre, Roman house, Domestic animal park, Old bakery, Silver treasure, Sun temple, Market place, the old city sight is of most valued attraction. Two days Roman festival at the end of august is also held.

     Historical Museum, haus zum Kirschgarten:--Built in 1775/1780 as a home and office of the Basel silk ribbon manufacturer. This is the principal museum of Swiss domestic life.

     Historical Museum Kutschen: --- Coaches, Sledges of 19th and 20th centuries belonging to Basel families. Hunting carriages, Dog carts, phaetons, coupes and

Landaus attest to the excellent workmanship of Basel’s coach builders.

     Music Museum: ---Largest collections of musical instruments dating back to 5th century are seen most tastefully preserved. A flag bearing the logo of Basel of 1536 also is gracefully decorated and are on display. Visitors can hear the sound; have the feel of each instrument and read elaborate details with regards to the origin, use and related matters, through sound and camera installed.

      Cartoon Museum: -- The superb building housing the museum dates back to the late Gothic period, depicting great artistic work of caricatures, cartoonist, illustrators, authors of children books and advertising designers.

     Muhle Museum, Brugligen:--The former watermill at the Bruglingerhof offers an exhibition on the history of watermill and millers from Bronze Age up to the 21st century.

     Museum der Kulturen, Basel: --- The prestigious museum houses one of Europe’s

largest collection on European and non- European cultural life. The museum’s collections on the South Seas, Ancient America, Tibet and Bali are world renowned, as are its textiles.

    Naturhistorisches (Natural History), Museum: ---As the name itself indicates, here one discovers the Archives of life. The venue provides existing facts about native and exotic animals. One goes back to the age of dinosaurs to the formation of earth. One can also experience the development of mammals, such as the mammoth and sabre-toothed tiger. It has the most fascinating world of minerals and fossils.

     Puppet Museum: ----It has collection of over 200 Barbie dolls alone, dressed by Persian artist Claude Brabant, its clothes from stone age to Dior and Basel fashion couturiers, teddy bears, dolls doll’s houses and miniatures arranged in most imaginative scenes. More than 6000 exhibits are on display, occupying four floors of the museum, which is the largest of its kind in Europe.

     In addition to these they have museums showing funeral artefacts, ash urns and documents on the history of funeral ceremonies, hearsays, coffins, cemetery regulations, grave crosses, glass bead wreaths and memento mori

     A museum at the Spalenvor stadt has collection of Fire fighting equipments from medieval hand operated spraying devises to modern days oxygen inhalers. Swiss ports museum preserves and imports the heritage of sports and games in Switzerland. The everyday Swiss life in existence in 1900 around Riehen too is preserved in a museum.

The wine cellar demonstrations, the importance of wine growing for Riehen and its surroundings are also seen in a museum. Further they have shipping museum and vitra design museum, housing world famous industrial furniture designs and architecture.

      One feels like researching as to how the citizens of the Switzerland have gone all out to ensure that generation after generation go on contributing to the rich customs, rituals, traditions and values for keeping/ preserving their heritage is passed on so as to make it immortal in the eyes of the world today and tomorrow.

      It is surprising to note that most of the collections are through the private collectors preserve handed over, gifted for the countries good. Even some of the structures in use today as museum  have been gifted by some citizen. There were mighty states existing all over, as also in my country but we see hardly any thing in a national museum, except of course the excavations, sea wealth etc.

     I strongly feel there is a need to educate the generation next to contribute for the good of the country, if one can! It may commence from us seniors itself. In the absence of our valuable contribution to the organisation it is impossible to see the standard of a vast country like our’s. Private collection do serve some purpose but one may have to be little magnanimous in the over all interest of the country.

     God bless the Swiss people…………

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