A flourishing Swiss city, Basel continuously develops in the place of an ancient settlement the history of which goes back to the times of the Celts. The Roman Empire made this area on the Rhine an important strategic place and built Basel’s first castle on a hill overlooking the river. The importance of the city of the century also came from the presence of the only bridge between the sea and the Lake Constance. The name of Basel comes from the Latin Basilia, first attested in the documents in the 4th century AD. Constant and uninterrupted development continued during the Reformation period and throughout the coming centuries.
In times of crisis, the city served as refuge place for the French Protestants that had fled from France, where Huguenots were put through a real ordeal during St. Bartholemy’s Night. Centre for Calvinism, Basel also prides with the first publishing house in Switzerland and one of the oldest in Europe. It was founded in 1488, and it was here that Erasmus of Rotterdam had his first works printed. Such cultural sights are part of Basel’s heritage and open to visitors that receive an insight in one of Europe’s oldest urban traditions. Let’s take a quick virtual tour of Basel to see what travelers may find further.
One thing I can tell you for sure is that you’ll definitely be impressed by the exquisite architecture of Basel. Let’s take the example of one particular sight, the Munster or Cathedral, a great red sandstone building that carries features of both late-Romanesque and early Gothic architectural styles. St. George’s tower is one of the oldest parts of the cathedral, built at the beginning of the 11th century, and it includes some very fine white stonework. Stone carvings are a proof and a reminder of the artwork mastery in the 13th century when the Munster was completed. The portal carving shows the founder of this sacred edifice, Emperor Henrich II. Enjoy the visit to this unique sight!
The most convenient way to move around Basel and make the best of its sights is to begin with a walking tour, since most of its attractions are at the heart of the historic city. Or you can even rent a bike from the rail station in the centre of the city. Most of the city’s cultural treasures are available in the many museums. At Fondation Beyeler you will find one of the most extensive collections of 20th century artwork that includes several works by Cezanne and Matisse as well as some extraordinary paintings of Pablo Picasso: The Two Brothers and the Seated Harlequin.
The Marktplaz is the very heart of Basel, that has served as a centre of the historic city for centuries. Now it houses the Town Hall and the Wine Growers Guildhall. From spring to fall, there are beautiful colourful stands where you can shop for vegetables, flowers or tasty fresh fruits. This can be pure pleasure. On your tour you’re very likely to find several fountains and statues that will draw your attention. Most of them are tributary to the city’s past. For instance Holbeinbrunnen is one such beautiful fountain with a statue in the middle depicting a 16th century bagpipe player designed after an engraving by Albrecht Durer.
Tourists are never disappointed by local entertainment, since Basel houses the famous masked carnival known as Fasnacht, a three-day celebration that is a six century old tradition. Nowadays it attracts thousands of tourists from all over Europe; it is held every year on the Sunday night following Mardi Gras. The Carnival includes a huge, not-to-be missed lantern parade that begins as early as 4 am on Monday morning. The lanterns remain on display in the Cathedral Square till Wednesday morning. Basel citizens take their costume makings very seriously, preparing them weeks in advance. The masked celebrations culminate at night in the many pubs and clubs housing unique concerts and theme parties.