Basel (Switzerland) – detailed information about the city with photos. Main sights and attractions in Basel with descriptions, travel guides and maps.
City of Basel (Switzerland)
Basel (French: Bâle, German: Basel, Italian: Basilea) is a city in the northwestern part of Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name. It is located on the banks of the Rhine between the Jura Mountains and the Black Forest near the border with Germany and France. Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland and the country’s cultural capital. It has one of the best-preserved and most beautiful medieval centers in Europe, with dozens of museums and galleries scattered throughout. Basel is an open, cosmopolitan city with a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere, interesting historical and cultural monuments.
Geography and climate
Basel is located in the northwestern corner of Switzerland on the border with France and Germany. The city is the heart of this unique tri-national region called the Dreiländereck. It is an excellent starting point for exploring Northwest Switzerland, the Black Forest and Alsace.
The Rhine River divides Basel into two parts. On the southern and western banks is Grossbasel, where the medieval Old Town is located. On the northern bank is Kleinbasel, a modern district with a vibrant nightlife.
Basel has a temperate climate, with warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year. The average summer temperature is 17-20 °C, and winter temperatures range from – 1 to +3 °C.
Practical information
- The population is over 170 thousand people.
- Languages – German and French.
- Area – 23.85 km².
- Currency – Swiss franc.
- Time – Central European Time UTC + 1, in summer + 2.
- Visa – Schengen.
- The highest point is 366 m (Wasserturm Bruderholz).
- Basel is home to one of the largest and oldest universities in Switzerland (founded in 1460).
- Basel’s main shopping area is from Clarastrasse (Claraplatz) to Marktplatz and up Freiestrasse and Gerbergasse.
- Basler Läckerli is a popular local product that resembles gingerbread.
- The main market is located on Marktplatz. It is open from Monday to Saturday. The prices, of course, are not the lowest. For market shopping, it is better to go to Petersplatz.
- Basel’s old town is full of charming restaurants, many of which have terraces or set up tables on the streets in summer. Bank cards are not accepted everywhere, so it’s best to check the form of payment in advance. Traditional Swiss food is quite expensive. Most frugal tourists and locals prefer pizza, various pastries, sausages, pancakes, sandwiches (sandwiches).
The best hotels in the city
History and interesting facts
Basel is an ancient city with more than two thousand years of history. It grew out of the Roman fortification of Basilea, founded in 15 BC. Before the Romans arrived, the Celts lived here. In 740, Basel became the seat of the bishops, which gave impetus to the city’s further growth and development.
In 917, the city was destroyed by the Hungarians. In 1185, Basel suffered from a severe fire, and in 1356 – from a strong earthquake. In the period from 1362 to 1398, the city walls were built. In 1460, a university was founded in Basel, which is the oldest educational institution in Switzerland. In 1501, the city joined the Swiss Union.
Getting there.
The nearest airport is located 4 km from Basel in France. The airport serves three cities at once: Mulhouse, Freiburg and Basel itself. The city can be reached from the airport by buses 11 and 50.
Basel is a major railway junction. The city has two main railway stations: Basel SBB (in the south) and Basel Badischer Bahnhof (in the north). Swiss trains arrive at the SBB station and depart from Zurich (travel time 53 minutes), Bern (travel time 55 minutes) and Geneva (travel time 2½ hours) every half hour. High-speed trains connect Basel with Berlin, Paris, and Frankfurt. There are also night trains to Amsterdam and Prague.
Sights and attractions
Basel’s old town is one of the most charming and well-preserved in Europe. The historic core of the city is located between the Rhine and the old city gate Spalentor. It has a small compact size and is great for walking.
The historic center of Basel with its narrow cobblestone streets, medieval churches and old houses has a wonderful atmosphere. The most interesting places are Marktplatz (Market Square), Münsterplatz (Cathedral Square) and Petersplatz (Peter’s Square), the old artisan district (Leonhardsberg, Spalenberg, Heuberg), Freiestrasse with Renaissance buildings.
Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path. Perhaps this way you will discover no less beautiful places, feel the atmosphere of Basel more fully and get to know the city a little better.
The Cathedral (Munster) is a medieval church in the Gothic style with Romanesque elements. The cathedral is located at the highest point of Basel and is one of the most famous buildings in the old city. Munster stands out for its outstanding spires and brightly patterned roof. The cathedral was built between the 9th and 13th centuries from red sandstone quarried in the French Vosges. The church is located on the elegant Münsterplatz square. In ancient times, a Roman fort was located on this site.
The modern building of the cathedral was restored in the Gothic style in 1356 after an earthquake. The beautiful ancient altar was destroyed during the Reformation in 1529. The most remarkable feature of Munster is the portal of St. Gallus, located in the North Transept, with its magnificent Romanesque carvings. The portal is considered the most important Romanesque sculptural work in Switzerland. Inside the cathedral there is an ancient crypt with tombs of bishops of the 10th-13th centuries, a beautiful Romanesque frieze, frescoes, and many other valuable works of church art.
St. Martin’s Church is the oldest parish church in Basel, founded in the early 12th century. It was significantly rebuilt in 1851, but retained many ancient elements. The bell of St. Martin’s Church traditionally announces the autumn fair.
The Church of St. Elizabeth is one of the most important neo-Gothic churches in Switzerland. It was completed in 1864, but gives the impression of an older building. The spire of the bell tower is 72 meters high.
St. Peter’s Church is a medieval church in the historic center of Basel. The first religious building on this site was built in the 9th century. Subsequently, the church was rebuilt in 1233, 1356 (after an earthquake) and in 1529 (during the Reformation).
The Spalentor is a powerful medieval gate dating back to the 14th century. They were once part of Basel’s city walls and now mark the border of the old city. The city fortifications were dismantled in 1866.
The Middle Bridge is one of the oldest bridges across the Rhine, built in 1226. The old bridge was replaced by a more modern structure in 1905.
One of the most important historical squares is the Market Square (Marktplatz). Its most notable building is the 16th-century town hall in the late Burgundian Gothic style with a beautiful facade. An impressive tower was added in the 19th century.
St. Alban’s Gate is one of the three remaining medieval gates. It dates back to 1400.
St. John’s Gate is a medieval city gate of the 14th century with a powerful tower.
The Tengli Fountain is an interesting sculptural fountain created in 1977 by the famous Swiss master Jean Tengli.
Museums in Basel
Basel is the cultural capital of Switzerland. There are about 40 museums here. That is why Basel is one of the best cities in Europe for lovers of culture, history and art.
- The Old Paper Mill is a museum of writing, printing, and paper.
- Museum of Antiquities (Ludwig Collection) – collections of Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Etruscan, and Roman works of art and historical artifacts covering the period from the fourth millennium BC to the first millennium AD.
- The Historical Museum is an important collection of Basel’s history and culture. The museum is located in the building of a medieval church.
- The Judisches Museum is one of the best museums of Jewish history and culture in Europe.
- The Museum of Art is the best art gallery in Switzerland, from the old masters of the Flemish and French schools to modern painting trends (expressionism, surrealism, etc.).
- Toy Museum – more than 6000 exhibits and the largest collection of teddy bears in the world.
