About this place
Perched high on the Münsterhügel directly behind the great cathedral, the Pfalz is Basel's most beloved viewing terrace. Its name comes from the Latin word palatium, meaning palace, for the residence of the prince bishops once stood close by and this ground long served as the bishop's private garden. Two thousand years ago the Romans fortified this rocky spur above the river with a fort they called Basilia, walling it around the year 270, and everything that grew into modern Basel spread outward from this spot. Built from the same red sandstone as the Münster in the 13th century, the terrace today is a free public space open around the clock, offering a wide panorama over the Rhine, the bridges, the Kleinbasel district, and the wooded slopes of three countries.
Key facts
- 270 AD — The Romans walled a hilltop fort called Basilia here around this year, the spot where Basel began
- 13 century — The terrace was raised from red sandstone alongside the neighboring Münster cathedral
- 24 hours — The Pfalz is a free public space, open around the clock every day of the year
📍 Pfalz, 4010, Basel