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The Augustinergasse
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Between the Rheinsprung and the Münsterplatz lies the Augustinergasse with the splendid Basilisk Fountain. One of the world’s first dedicated museum buildings was built by Melchior Berri in the Augustinergasse – today the Museums of Cultures (Museum der Kulturen) and the Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum).
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A basilisk perches atop the richly-decorated fountain column, grasping in its talons the Basel Stadt coat of arms, a black crosier on a white background. This "Baslerstab" symbolises a bishop's crosier. Originally a red crosier was used as the emblem of the reigning prince bishop. However, when power was transferred to the guilds, the black Baslerstab was adopted as the city's new heraldic symbol. In 1833 the newly-founded canton of Baselland readopted the red Baslerstab, in slightly modified form, as its cantonal heraldic symbol.
The large Classical building designed by Melchior Berri in the 1840s dominates this section of the Augustinergasse. High up on the façade, at the middle of the frieze by Johann Jakob Oechslin, sits the basilea, which embodies the city of Basel. In her arms she holds a coat of arms and a cornucopia, and on her head she wears a masonry crown. The building was one of the earliest museum buildings in Switzerland. Today it accommodates the Museum of Cultures (Museum der Kulturen) and the Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum), both of which exhibit world-class collections of international renown.
On the opposite side stand well-preserved private Gothic and Baroque houses, whose residents enjoy a unique view over the Rhine.
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