Fondation Beyeler is an art museum in Riehen, a village just outside Basel. Renzo Piano designed the long, low building, which lets in a great deal of daylight and sits beside a park and a lily pond. The permanent collection, assembled by former art dealers Hildy and Ernst Beyeler, places Picasso and Rothko alongside works by Miró and Max Ernst and tribal figures from Oceania. Temporary exhibitions run throughout the year. A Yayoi Kusama show with infinity nets, sculptures and a mirror room is a strong reason to visit, and the garden is a good place to walk before or after the galleries.
The building and its setting
Renzo Piano, the Italian architect, designed the museum as a long, low, open-plan building. Large glass walls face the park and the lily pond, so daylight reaches the galleries throughout the day.
The museum stands in Riehen, a village on the edge of Basel, surrounded by fields and trees. Nature walks start from the grounds. The Rehberger-Weg runs from the museum across the border to the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein. A new museum building by Peter Zumthor is under construction in the adjoining park.
From a private collection to a public museum
The collection was built over about 50 years by Hildy and Ernst Beyeler, who had worked as art dealers. The foundation that holds it was set up in 1982.
The collection was first shown to the public in 1989 at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid. Its focus is classical modernism and contemporary art.
What is on display
The permanent collection has fewer than 250 works. It places 19th- and 20th-century paintings by Picasso and Rothko beside sculptures by Miró and Max Ernst and tribal figures from Oceania. The rooms are rehung from time to time, so a return visit can show different arrangements.
Temporary exhibitions are shown in addition to the permanent collection. Recent shows have included a Cézanne exhibition. Check the programme before you visit if you have a particular artist in mind.
The Kusama show and the garden
The Yayoi Kusama exhibition is built around infinity nets, sculptures and an Infinity Mirror Room. The mirror room is new, and it can be entered in the same way as the other installations.
In the park outside, the Narcissus Garden spheres sit among the grounds. The garden includes a lily pond and paths for a slow walk. The garden is free to enter.
Visiting the museum
The building has a restaurant, a coat check and restrooms. The entrance, lift and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and the car park has accessible spaces. Mobility scooters can be rented on site.
For visitors with specific needs, the museum offers tours for visually impaired visitors and assisted listening devices. Children receive discounts on admission, and the museum has changing tables and activities for children.
Getting there and what is nearby
Tram 6 runs from Barfüsserplatz or Marktplatz in Basel to Riehen. From Basel, many visitors combine the museum with a bike ride along the Rhine and a visit to the Old Town of Weil am Rhein.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee?
Yes. The museum charges admission. The garden is free to enter.
How do I get to Fondation Beyeler from Basel?
Take tram 6 from Barfüsserplatz or Marktplatz to Riehen. Paid parking is available on site.
Should I book tickets in advance?
Yes. The museum recommends getting tickets in advance, especially for busy openings and popular shows.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance, the lift, the restrooms and the car park all have wheelchair access. Mobility scooters can be rented on site.
