Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland and is famous for being a "Trinational urban centre", being part of French, Swiss and German Switzerland.
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Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland and is famous for being a "Trinational urban centre", being part of French, Swiss and German Switzerland.
The local population is mixed as can be, with over 150 listed ethnic groups within the city. It is cosmopolitan and dynamic, a fun place to visit, but is also the seat of the Bank for International Settlements and hosts a full calendar of conventions, international meets and expos in all shapes, sizes and colours.
There is also lots to do in Basel, from the traditional carnival to Art Basel (a modern and contemporary art fair) or the Davidoff Swiss Indoors tennis tournament…
Celtic tribes established themselves on the Rhine banks as early as the year 500 BC. According to Roman archives (dated to 374 AD) the city of Basel was originally named Basilea.
For over six centuries the city was passed from one power to another, from Germanic tribes to Burgundy and the Franks. In 1302 it was definitively integrated into the German Empire.
The 14th century brought terrible cataclysms to the city; the Plague and later a terrible earthquake would cause much destruction. By 1460 the local University (founded by Pope Pius II) opened its doors to the students of Europe: Erasmus himself would attend this establishment. Then in 1501, Basel aligned itself with the Helvetic (Swiss) Confederation.
In 1833, the city of Basel separated from "Basel-Country" to become its own canton (or half-canton). In the late 20th century Basel has pushed forwards in biotechnology and is working towards an ideal of sustainability.
Basel boasts no leass than forty museums, each with its own specialty and field of study. The Beyeler Foundation, for example, is all about 20th century art, from Monet to Warhol, Cézanne, Picasso and Van Gogh.
The Kuntsmuseum Basel, on the other hand, deals with the period from 1400 to 1600 (featuring artwork of the upper Rhine and the Netherlands), but also Renaissance works and a small section dated between the 19th and 21st centuries.
Be sure to visit the Elisabethenkirche which is the largest Neo-Gothic edifice in the country. Raised between 1857 and 1865, it is a stunning construction and hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Another religious monument of note is the Basel Cathedral, made of red sandstone and blending Romanesque and Gothic architecture. It is home to the tomb of Erasmus…
Finally, the Zoo and Botanical Gardens will make for a pleasant, nature-oriented break from such rich and fascinating history.
