History

The Gast und Kulturhaus Der Teufelhof Basel opened in 1989. The former owners, Monica and Dominique Thommy-Kneschaurek have thus fulfilled a lifetime dream.

The Teufelhof Basel occupies two interconnected historic houses in Basel Old Town and offers two hotels, two restaurants (one of which has been awarded a Michelin star), a theatre, a wine shop, a café, a bar and the archaeological cellar. Culture is also found throughout the establishment. It is worth noting of the Teufelhof that its creators did not come directly from the hospitality industry.

Having decided that theatre should not be understood as a cultural island, but as an element that participates actively in the life of the city, Dominique Thommy and his partner Albert leVice built the first mobile small theatre in 1967: ‘Das schiefe Theater’ was a special construction on wheels, which unfolded into an enclosed, sound-insulated theatre hall, accommodated an audience of 120 and had a fully equipped stage. ‘Das schiefe Theater’ appeared in places where theatre was not expected at that time: in the midst of everyday life in city centres. Monica and Dominique Thommy-Kneschaurek met during this intense period. ‘Das schiefe Theater’ had its premiere in Basel in October 1968. In the following seven years, they went all over Europe with leVice and his wife and played to more than 90,000 audience members in more than 1,100 performances. After the intensive period of travelling with ‘Das schiefe Theater’, the couple wanted to settle down.

The question for them was how to run a theatre at a permanent site and design a programme that depended neither on subsidies nor on superficial crowd-pleasers. They found the solution by coming up with the idea of self-subsidising the theatre by operating it alongside a café and restaurant business. They started out by running the Kaffee zum Teufel in Basel only to then create something bigger and grander 14 years later – the Kultur und Gasthaus der Teufelhof.

They pursued their goal with loving obstinacy, despite objections that lasted over six years and were resolved in their favour in front of a federal court. And so the Teufelhof became what it is today.

The main objective at the Kultur und Gasthaus der Teufelhof Basel is to pique curiosity and to be a broker between personalities and their quality products as well as the guests. Both in the area of gastronomy and also in that of theatre and the visual arts. The theatre visitor should be made aware of the dining culture and the visual arts, the gourmets made curious about the theatre work as well as the art rooms and exhibitions, while admirers of art installations were taught to appreciate the arts of cooking and stage.

What’s more, the dining and hotel operations continue to finance the art. This makes the Teufelhof unique. On 1 January 2009, the Teufelhof passed into new ownership. The Thommys sold the hotel to two former employees, Nathalie Reinhardt and Raphael Wyniger. Today they rund the Teufelhof, bring in new ideas and concepts without forgetting the tradition.

2022

The Teufelhof Basel is awarded the «ibex fairstay» label for sustainability - with gold at the first attempt.

2019

Redesign of 7 art rooms in January 

28.04.2019 30th jubilee of Teufelhof

12.05.2019 Opening Pier 4125 Naturbad Riehen

25.02.2019 Opening Taverne Johann

01.06.2019 Opening SET. Hotel.Residence by Teufelhof

Opening Ristorante «Capo»

Theater and cabaret Award «Teufel-Dreizack 2019»

2018

31st Mai 2018: Opening of the Cocktaileria-Gelateria at the Styx Bar - www.styxbar.ch

Founding of the «Wyniger Gruppe» - www.wyniger.com

The Teufelhof Basel took over the Ryago AG in Basel in March 2018 in terms of a succession regulation. www.ryago.ch

2017

 

During the winter months at the restaurant Ufer7 : Opening of the «Rheinchalet« - Fondue with Rhine view, www.rheinchalet.ch

Opening of the pop-up bar «Styx» at Unterer Rheingasse 9, www.styxbar.ch

Opening of the new event location «Opus» in the historic part of the building.

Opening of the restaurant Ufer7 in «Kleinbasel» www.ufer7.ch

2016

Opening of inhouse brewery «Stadtmauer Brauer» www.stadtmauerbrauer.ch

Opening of the new event location «Atrium» at Gemsberg 8, as well as new office premisis.

2015

Raphael Wyniger is elected as the (first) "Hotelier of the year" of switzerland www.hotelierdesjahres.ch

In mai: Opening of the café*restaurant*bar 1777 at Schmiedenhof www.1777.ch

2014

Issue of the cooking-book "Aus Teufels Küche - 25 Küche, 25 Jahre Teufelhof", Reinhardt Verlag Basel ISBN 978-3-7245-1979-9

On 28th April the Teufelhof Basel celebrates its 25-years jubilee.

2013

Numerous renovations around the Teufelhof.

2012

The Teufelhof Bar is renovated and get a new concept.

The fine dining restaurant Bel Etage is softly renovated.

The theatre in the Teufelhof gets a new leadership. Katharina Martens and Roland Suter take over the lead from Dominique Thommy. They continue with the tradition of the programming. In this context the theatre is softly rebuilt.

2011

On 6th May the Teufelhof Basel is voted as the most friendly shop in the City of Basel. This prize, which makes us extremly happy and proud, is awarded from the Basler Zeitung based on a pull.

Article BAZ 06.05.2011
Announce BAZ 14.05.2011

2010

The restaurant Atelier is opened on 3rd August. It replaces the former restaurant Weinstube which has been completely rebuilt. At once a new culinary concept is implented. The restaurant Atelier enjoys great popularity from the beginning on. It is the main project of the new owners in 2010.

2009

Thommys assign the Teufelhof to their follower.

On the occasion of the 20-years jubilee of the Teufelhof the memory book «Der Teufelhof Basel» is published on 28th April. It is realised by Jürg Seiberth and Fredy Heller.

As the first project of Raphael Wyniger and Nathalie Reinhardt the new meeting and banquet room «Shine & Dine» is opened.

2008

Raphael Wyniger has his break through regarding the question of financing the Teufelhof Basel. A notable bank agrees to grant a loan for the purchase of the Teufelhof.

Raphael Wyniger works successfully as project leader in the special field tourism for the city of Basel on the occasion of the Euro 2008.

On 30th October the sale and purchase agreements are signed by both parties to the contracts.

2007

Monica and Dominique Thommy ask Raphael Wyniger and Nathalie Reinhardt if they would like to take over the Teufelhof.

2004

Dominique Thommy assumes control of the theatre in the Teufelhof.

2002

Raphael Wyniger starts to work at Basel Tourismus. After a short while he becomes vice director.

2001

Fredy Heller, head of the theatre, receives the «Basler Kulturpreis».

Thommys receive for their «life's work Teufelhof» the «Milestone 2001», the Swiss tourism award.

Dominique Thommy starts his business as lyricist at the Nadelberg 47 for about two years.

2000

The magazine BILANZ puts the Teufelhof on the first place in its ranking «Three stars hotels of Switzerland».

A satire open in honor of the 25 years anniversary of the theater takes place in the Teufelhof.

1999

Raphael Wyniger starts to work in the service as a trainee of the hotel management school SHL in Lucerne. He stays one year.

1997

Relocation and opening of the shop «falstaff» in the cellar of the Gallery Hotel.

1996

After 9 monthes of reconstruction period (the architect Hans Pösinger has again the lead) the Gallery Hotel is opened with 24 rooms.

1995

Thommys buy the adjoining building of the Teufelhof (former Stift St. Leonhard) with building law from the city of Basel; the prosecution moves out.

The wine magazine «Der WeinWisser» rates the Teufelhof wine list with 17 of possible 20 points.

1993

Thommys receive the Design-Preis-Schweiz for the sector company.

The gastronomy guide «Michelin» awards the kitchen of the Teufelhof one star.

The magazine Bilanz arranges an «economy dream team» with Monica Thommy as Human Ressources Manager.

1991

Opening of the wine and speciality shop at the Heuberg 26.

In October the first edition of the company newspaper DAS BLATT is released.

1990

Vernissage of the for the first time designed art rooms in the Art Hotel.

1989

On 28th April the Teufelhof Basel with eight hotel rooms, two restaurants, one café, a bar and two theatres is opened with a debut performance of «Abendfrieden spezial» from the cabaret artist Mr. Joachim Rittmeyer.

1988

The chef Michael Baader joins the project.

Two rulings of the Federal Court in favor of Thommys. In series (after a clarification of the building licence durin 2361 days) the modification of the Truchsesser Hof to the Teufelhof in only 9 months. The architect Hans Pösinger has the lead.

1981-1988

Fredy Heller joins Thommys as program designer in the «Theater/Café zum Teufel».

The idea Truchsesser Hof/Teufelhof gets concretised: the took over of the building from the BBG Basler Baugesellschaft AG.

Objections against the project until 1988. Dr. Alex Fischer represent Thommys in legal terms.

from 1980/81 on

Idea of the extended project of the «Theater/Café zum Teufel», amongst others in the Heckdorn villa.

1978

Nathalie Reinhardt has been borned in Basel on 19th May.

1975

Raphael Wyniger has been borned in Solothurn on 20th July.

1974

Thommys open the theatre/café «zum Teufel» on the Andreasplatz.

1968 until 1974

Start of the theatre «Schiefes Theater», premiere in Basel.
Afterwards tour through whole Europe.
Last performance on the Barfüsserplatz in Basel in 1974.

1967

Construction of the mobile theatre «Schiefes Theater» by Dominique Thommy and Albert LeVice. Monica Kneschaurek joins the ensemble of the «Schiefes Theater» as «women for everything». She and Dominique Thommy get married.

1944

Monica Kneschaurek has been borned in Lugano on 8th November.

1943

Dominique Thommy has been borned in Basel on 28th September.

APPROX. 1936

The doctor Dr. Peter-Hans Hosch buys the Truchsesser Hof from the family Adam

AROUND 1850

Construction of the big Truchsesser Hof at the Leonhardsgraben 47.

AROUND 1500/1600

Abbey, Stift St. Leonhard at the Leonhardsgraben; the beginnings (from 1200/1300 on) are largely obscure.

11TH – 13TH CENTURY

Construction of the city walls with defence tower; today the city walls below the defence tower are freely accessible.