Basel's Light-Filled Modern Masters by Renzo Piano

At a Glance

Fondation Beyeler sits in Berower Park in Riehen just outside Basel, opened 1997. Built by Renzo Piano, the low single-story pavilion uses a glass roof so natural light falls directly on the 400 works collected by dealers Ernst and Hildy Beyeler.

A Dealer's Lifetime

Ernst Beyeler opened a Basel bookshop in 1945 and built the collection through direct friendships with Picasso, Giacometti and Mondrian. The foundation opened in 1982; the museum in 1997. The site is within 3 km of both France and Germany.

Must-See

• Monet's Water Lilies facing the garden pond through glass.
• Picasso Cubist and late works.
• Giacometti sculpture room.
• Rothko and Kiefer pairings.
• Cézanne landscapes along the glass corridor.

Visiting Tips

25-min tram 6 from Basel SBB to Riehen Fondation Beyeler. CHF 25. 2–2.5 hours. Open daily (unusual for a European museum). Pair with Kunsthalle Basel and Kunstmuseum Basel.