Basel Minster - West Front

The west front and towers of Basle Minster are entirely Gothic, with the exception of the lower part of the north tower (St George's tower), which dates from the end of the 11th C. St George's tower, with its elegant upper part and spire, is 64.2 m/211ft in height, the south tower (St Martin's), completed in 1500, is 62.7 m/206ft high.

The sculptured friezes above the main doorway depict prophets in the outer frieze, roses in the middle one and dancing angels in the inner one. To the right of the doorway is a figure of the "Prince of this world" dallying with one of the Foolish Virgins: from the front he looks like a fine young man, but his back is crawling with adders and noxious vermin symbolizing corruption. To the left of the doorway are depicted the founder of the church, the Emperor Henry II, with a model of the building, and the Empress Kunigunde. Farther out, under the towers, two mounted saints represent St George (left) and St Martin (right) and above the latter are a clock and a sundial. On the central gable the figures of the founders appear again, and above them, enthroned and bearing the infant Jesus, is the Virgin (to whom the church is dedicated).