Venue Description

The Basel Paper Mill is a hands-on museum where visitors can experience the historical background to paper and print technologies with all our senses. It has positioneted itself as one of the few museums telling the story from paper to the finished book under one roof. With this broad range, the Basel Paper Mill focuses on one of the driving forces of our history. To enter the museum, you go past the museum restaurant (in the Stegreif Mill, where paper ws made up to 1924). The museum's main building, however, is the Gallizian Mill, named for the original papiermaker. The Museum für Paper, Writing and Printing opened its doors in 1980 as the "Basel Paper Mill". The museum has four storeys available for workshops and exhibits. A tour of the museum starts with paper on the ground floor, then through the history of type and writing to a type foundry in actual production. Next comes the printing of books up to the finished volume, in the bindery on the third upper floor. Today's allocation to different levels - with paper production on the ground floor and the printery in the second upper floor - recalls the situation at the end of the 18th century. Production runs before the visitor's eyes on original machines. Selling the products in the museum shop helps cover the costs. For a first-hand experience of the individual steps in trades now largely vanished, visitors can try doing the jobs themselves in a genuine workshop environment: creating paper, writting their names with a goose quill or pen, on a typewriter or in real type, and setting and printing it themselves. They can also experiment with colourful patterns in the marbling workshop.

Accessibility

The museum is located in a preserved paper mill which was built during the ate Middle Ages and is therefore not able to fulfill the building requirements which a new building is subject to. Nevertheless almost all the rooms are accessble in a wheelchair. The four levels of the museum are joined together by a sufficiently spacious lift (200x100 cm). Ramps already exist for most of the door steps between the rooms . Two toilets with wheelchair access are available for the use of disabled visitors. A wheelchair is available for the use of those visitors with mobility problems. Please ask for this at the ticket desk.

Awards List

Tripadvisor: 2017 Zertifikat für Exzellenz European Museum of the Year awards: 1993 we received a Special Commendation In 2006 we were awarded a "museum's Star" The Michelin Guidebook also rates the museum with a star

Toilets

The accessible toilets are in the ground floor. For wheelchair users a special toilet is available. The entrance is big enough for a wheelchair.

Staff

The museum is located in a preserved paper mill which was built during the ate Middle Ages and is therefore not able to fulfill the building requirements which a new building is subject to. Nevertheless almost all the rooms are accessble in a wheelchair. The four levels of the museum are joined together by a sufficiently spacious lift (200x100 cm). Ramps already exist for most of the door steps between the rooms . Two toilets with wheelchair access are available for the use of disabled visitors. A wheelchair is available for the use of those visitors with mobility problems. Please ask for this at the ticket desk. Our employees are sensitized to handle with people with a disability. All of the Museum’s departments feature accessible and supportive workplaces for people with physical and/or mental disabilities. One of the Museum’s core values is inclusivity. The Museum offers programs, including job training, to people with disabilities who are seeking new ways to earn a living.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

Assistance dog users can take their dog with