Basel ist die zweitgrößte Stadt der Eidgenossenschaft hinsichtlich Größe und Bevölkerung (ca. 180.000 Einwohner), das alte Basel liegt am Ufer des Rheins, genau an der Stelle, an der der Fluss, auf dem Weg nach Nordeuropa, eine Schleife bildet und wo Schweiz, Frankreich und Deutschland aufeinandertreffen. Das Ergebnis ist eine Art kosmopolitische Insel, eingebettet zwischen dem Jura und dem Schwarzwald, die ihre Stärke und ihren Charakter stets aus der Multikulturalität schöpft.
Basel, neben der Hauptstadt des gleichnamigen Halbkantons (Basel-Stadt), ist ein bedeutendes Industrie- und Handelszentrum, in das viel in Ideen, Kreativität und Experimentierfreude investiert wird, wie auch Art Basel zeigt, die wichtigste Ausstellung für zeitgenössische Kunst Europas, die jedes Jahr in der zweiten Juni-Hälfte Künstler, Kritiker, Händler und Sammler aus aller Welt in die riesigen Hallen der Messe zieht.
Basel places of interest
1 Walk along the Rhine
What makes Basel attractive and very popular is also the Rheinweg, the elegant promenade along the river, which features elegant period buildings and a lively nightlife. The fact that its inhabitants unmistakably consider themselves river people is also demonstrated by a peculiar fact: despite the dense series of road transport, which shuttles from one part of the city to another across numerous bridges, Baslers continue to prefer the characteristic fahre, small wooden ferries without engines, that silently sail the water using favorable currents. Among the things to do in Basel, there is undoubtedly the cruise on the Rhine which allows you to admire the city stretching along both banks of the river (from March to October).
2 Grosse Basel and Klein Basel
The Rhine crosses the city and divides it into two well-distinct parts: Grosse Basel, the Greater Basel, on the western bank, and Klein Basel, the Little Basel, on the eastern side. The first, exuberant and excellently preserved, is full of monuments, starting with the Munster, the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral in red sandstone; fountains; medieval buildings; Gothic houses, like those surrounding Andreasplatz; 17th-century and Rococo mansions, like the Stadthaus or the Pharmacy Museum; taverns, hotels and restaurants. The second, Klein Basel, is decidedly less attractive, full of traffic, dotted with large buildings and company offices, wide avenues, such as Clarasgraben and Rebgasse, lined with a myriad of shops and department stores.
3 Basel Cathedral: Münster
The Basel Cathedral, Münster, is among Basel’s tourist attractions. In a prominent position, the ancient bishopric overlooks the Rhine and radiates its presence throughout the region. The Reformed Temple is a living monument of Romanesque and Gothic architecture (1019-1500): built in red sandstone, it boasts a rich historical tradition as well as exceptional musical and sacred vitality.
4 Basel Zoo
Basel Zoological Garden dates back to 1874, the year of its inauguration. It is also called “Zolli” and hosts a great number of local and exotic animals. With its charming park area and carefully arranged enclosures, a visit to Basel Zoo is always worthwhile. There are about 600 different animal species in an eleven-hectare park with exotic flora in the city center.
5 Kunstmuseum Basel: contemporary art museum
The Kunstmuseum Basel and the Basel museum of contemporary art gather contemporary artworks. The opening of the underground passage connecting the main building with the new extension, designed by Basel architects Christ & Gantenbein, has allowed for more exhibition space. The main building on St-Alban-Graben delights with works from the 15th century until 1960. The new building hosts temporary exhibitions and works created between 1960 and 1990. The Kunstmuseum Basel houses one of the oldest public art collections and the largest Holbein collection in the world. All three buildings of the Kunstmuseum Basel have a total exhibition area of 10,000 square meters.
6 Museum of Cultures
The Museum of Cultures Basel is currently among the most important ethnographic museums in Europe. The collection, with over 300,000 pieces, is impressive and renowned worldwide. Through generations, the collection has focused on precious objects from Europe, Africa, America, Oceania, and Asia. Entrance to exhibitions is free with the Upper Rhine Museum Pass.
7 Beyeler Foundation
The Beyeler Foundation is in Riehen and it is here that you can discover the 250 masterpieces of Hildy and Ernst Beyeler, admire collections of classical modern art works or sensational exhibitions. In the modern 127-meter-long building designed by architect Renzo Piano, you can admire diverse art collections and special exhibitions. Part of the ground floor is dedicated to exceptional temporary exhibitions, such as those on Marlene Dumas, Gerhard Richter or Ferdinand Hodler. These exhibitions are accompanied by a dense calendar of events with readings, debates, and guided tours.
8 Tinguely Museum
The Tinguely Museum Basel houses the largest collection of works by Jean Tinguely in the world. Temporary exhibitions, often interactive, are dedicated to his precursors, contemporaries, or the latest trends. The museum’s permanent exhibition, dedicated to him, presents a wide overview of forty years of artistic activity. Temporary exhibitions, on the other hand, always inspired by Tinguely’s ideas, shed light on a broad range of 20th and 21st-century artists, from his declared models such as Marcel Duchamp and Kurt Schwitters to contemporaries like Arman, Niki de Saint Phalle and Yves Klein, even addressing contemporary themes and trends. An artwork in itself is the building housing the museum, designed by the renowned architect Mario Botta. Entrance to exhibitions is free with the Upper Rhine Museum Pass.
