Basler Papiermühle - Schweizerisches Museum für Papier, Schrift und Druck
About This Museum
Did you know that the very paper you're reading this on has a direct ancestor in the water-powered mills of medieval Basel? Tucked away in the serene St. Alban-Tal, the Basler Papiermühle isn't just a museum; it's a living, breathing time capsule where history feels immediate and tangible. You can actually hear the creak of wooden gears and smell the damp pulp as you walk through rooms filled with antique presses and cases of gleaming type. The magic happens when you get your hands wet, dipping a sieve into a vat of cotton fibers to pull your own sheet of paper, just as it was done centuries ago.
Collection Highlights
The star of the show is a fully reconstructed 15th-century paper mill, complete with a working waterwheel and a massive paper press. You'll find stunning examples of early book printing with Gutenberg-era presses and an incredible assortment of hand-set type. Don't miss the ornate calligraphy specimens and the collection of historic stamps.
Visitor Information
This is one place you'll want to block out a good few hours for—it's incredibly hands-on. Check their website for the daily workshop schedules for papermaking and typesetting; booking ahead is wise, especially for families. It’s a wonderfully immersive experience, so be prepared to get a little inky!
Architecture & Building
Housed in a beautifully preserved medieval mill building, its thick stone walls and heavy timber beams are right on the canal, with the original waterwheel still turning.
Contact & Location
Address: 37, St. Alban-Tal, Vorstädte, Kleinbasel, Basel, Basel-Stadt, 4052, Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera/Svizra
Phone: +41 61 225 90 90
Website: Visit Website
