Basel Town Hall

The Basel Town Hall (German: Rathaus Basel, locally known as Roothuus) is a 500-year-old building that stands proudly in the Marktplatz of Basel, Switzerland. This grand building has been an important part of the city's history for centuries.

Inside the Basel Town Hall, important decisions are made for the area. It is where the Cantonal Parliament meets to discuss and decide on laws and policies. The building also holds meetings for the Cantonal Government of the canton of Basel-Stadt, helping to guide and manage the region.

This historic place not only looks beautiful but also plays a key role in the daily life of Basel, showing how the city has grown and changed over the years.

History

The first building that stood where the current town hall is was destroyed in a big earthquake in Basel in 1356, and all the records were lost. Later, a new building called the “Palace of the Lords” was built. In 1501, Basel joined the Swiss Confederation, and two years later, leaders decided to build a new building next to the Palace of the Lords to celebrate this event. Construction happened between 1504 and 1514. During this time, special symbols from the Swiss regions were added to the roof.

The old Palace of the Lords was made taller between 1517 and 1521, and a big meeting room called the Great Council Chamber was created. This room once had beautiful paintings made in 1522 by an artist named Hans Holbein the Younger, but sadly, they are now lost. Some pieces of these paintings and some early drawings are kept in the Kunstmuseum in Basel.

In the local Basel German dialect, the town hall is called “Roothus,” which means “council house” but also sounds like “red house,” referring to the building’s red sandstone exterior.