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Ferryboat “Vogel Gryff” of the Basel Klingental Ferry Service, built 1962From Greater- to Lesser-Basel by ShipThe history of the Basel ferry, unlike that of its bridges, only goes back to the 19th century. The first ferry commuted between Harzgraben and Waisenhaus from 1854 until the opening of the Wettstein Bridge in 1877. From 1877, the Münster ferry, a little further downstream, was in operation, and in 1862 there was a ferry service between Totentanz and Kaserne. Under the name “Klingental Ferry” it is still working today, a “flying bridge for pedestrians”, as the ferries were described in a pilot project of 1848. The youngest of the three present-day Basel ferries, the St Alban ferry, dates from 1894. In 1944 on the initiative of the then director of the Basel Tourist Office, the three ferryboats were given the names of the heraldic figures from the three Lesser-Basel honorary companies. From downstream on, they are “Wilde Ma” (St Alban), “Leu” (Münster) and “Vogel Gryff” for the Klingental ferry. Until 1954 the three ferries were run by the Basel Cultural Society – the Basel Art Gallery was financed from the proceeds. Subsequently the Cultural Society donated these ships to the ferrymen who had manned them. In 1972 the Klingental ferry, and in 1976 the St Alban ferry, came into the hands of a foundation which appointed lessees, while the Münster ferry is still today in private ownership. In 1977 the “Wilde Ma” and in 1983 “Vogel Gryff” were replaced by new ships with the same name. The old “Vogel Gryff” now has a place of honour in the Transport Museum.
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  • Ferryboat “Vogel Gryff” of the Basel Klingental Ferry Service, built 1962
    From Greater- ...

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  • Ferryboat “Vogel Gryff” of the Basel Klingental Ferry Service, built 1962
    From Greater- to Lesser-Basel by Ship

    The history of the Basel ferry, unlike that of its bridges, only goes back to the 19th century. The first ferry commuted between Harzgraben and Waisenhaus from 1854 until the opening of the Wettstein Bridge in 1877. From 1877, the Münster ferry, a little further downstream, was in operation, and in 1862 there was a ferry service between Totentanz and Kaserne. Under the name “Klingental Ferry” it is still working today, a “flying bridge for pedestrians”, as the ferries were described in a pilot project of 1848. The youngest of the three present-day Basel ferries, the St Alban ferry, dates from 1894. In 1944 on the initiative of the then director of the Basel Tourist Office, the three ferryboats were given the names of the heraldic figures from the three Lesser-Basel honorary companies. From downstream on, they are “Wilde Ma” (St Alban), “Leu” (Münster) and “Vogel Gryff” for the Klingental ferry. Until 1954 the three ferries were run by the Basel Cultural Society – the Basel Art Gallery was financed from the proceeds. Subsequently the Cultural Society donated these ships to the ferrymen who had manned them. In 1972 the Klingental ferry, and in 1976 the St Alban ferry, came into the hands of a foundation which appointed lessees, while the Münster ferry is still today in private ownership. In 1977 the “Wilde Ma” and in 1983 “Vogel Gryff” were replaced by new ships with the same name. The old “Vogel Gryff” now has a place of honour in the Transport Museum.
  • Inventory No.VHS-9157
  • Original/modelOriginal-Fahrzeug
  • Object typeObject (three-dimensional)
  • Manufacturer/operatorFähri-Verein Basel (Verein Freunde Basler Fähren) (1974), Model operator, archivalisch belegt
    Johann Waldmeier AG Bootbau und Sport (1974), Model manufacturer, archivalisch belegt
  • GeographyTerritory: Basel, Rhein
  • Dating1962 - 1983
  • Object weightL x B x H 11.6 x 2.9 x 1 cm
    Gewicht 2000 kg
  • Number of crew1
  • Type of propulsionHydro power