Description of the attraction
The former Catholic and later Reformed Church of St. Leonard is located on the Leonardskirheplatz square in the Old Town of Basel. The Gothic temple is located on a hill, but you can climb to it from the main square of the city of Barfusserplatz in a few minutes. The church of St. Leonard, due to its location, was built into the inner chain of city fortifications in the 12th century.
The exact date of the construction of the Leonardskirche church is unknown. In its place in 1080, a three-nave Romanesque basilica was built, which was consecrated 38 years later. A crypt with frescoes and tombs of the 12th century has survived from it to our time. In 1135, the basilica became part of the Augustinian monastery complex. The devastating earthquake of 1356, which shook Basel, caused a complete restructuring of the church. Instead of the old temple, a Gothic church with long choirs and several chapels appeared here. The structure was crowned with a slender bell tower.
In 1529, Protestants destroyed all of the original furnishings of St. Leonard's Church. Altars were broken, paintings were burned, furniture was dismantled for firewood. The temple itself was rebuilt and became one of the four Protestant churches in Basel.
Since 1668, the Leonardskirche church has never been used for its intended purpose. At first, it housed a craft workshop; from 1821 to 1995, the city prison worked here. After that, the building was renovated and turned into a hotel, restaurant and Museum of Musical Instruments. Theatrical performances take place in the basement of the former church.
