Basel is probably one of the more overlooked Swiss cities in most visitors itineraries who tend to head to the more well know destinations such as Lucerne or the mountains year round. Some of this is understandable. But that doesn't mean Basel doesn't have anything to offer. Quite on the contrary.
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Marktplatz and
the Renaissance Rathaus are the right in heart of Grossbasel.
Marktplatz is, somewhat unsurprisingly, host to the
Basel
fruit and veg market - breads, pastries and flowers are
also on offer. Best bet, though, is on Saturdays which
attracts significantly more vendors during the week.
The distinctive red Palace is home to the Rathaus
(Town House) which is still in official use. Official
tours of the Rathaus occur every Thursday at 18:00 in
German. Guided tours can be arranged in English though Basel
Tourism - however for a price for 200CHF you should
arrange to go as a group (the price is per group.) -
The City Gates and Spalentor (Spalen Gate) Three city gates - Spalentor, St Alban Tor and St Johanns Tor - survive from the third ring of fortifications which were built in 1400 to provide greater security after the earthquake of 1356. The Spalentor is the most well preserved and imposing of the city gates that survive. The side facing away from the town is decorated with three figures from the beginning of the 15th century - the Madonna and two prophets.
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The Münster and Pfalz are
two of the most attractive locations in
Basel
. Built
in the Romanesque and Gothic styles between 1019 and
1500, the Munster overlooks the Rhine and is surrounded
by a most pleasant old town and square. Several figures
decorate the main south facing façade - including
one of the famous St George slaying the equally famous
(and now equally dead) dragon. The St. Gallus Door (Galluspforte)
on the western façade of the Münster is one
of the most important sculptural works from the Romanesque
period in Switzerland. The
interior houses a 19th Century lecturn and a crypt with
the tombs of early bishops of
Basel
. The views from the
Pfalz - north of the Münster - over the Rhine are
some of the most spectacular that
Basel
has to offer
and, with a clearish day, you can see into
France
and
Germany. For a few francs you can climb the shorter of
the two towers - St Martins at 62 meters. St Georges
Tower is 65 meters. -
Elisabethen, Elisabethenstrasse. St. Elizabeth
is, compared to other attractions underrated in
Basel
guides. Constructed between 1857 and 1865, it was the first
new Protestant church building in
Basel
following the
Reformation and is considered the most important neo-Gothic
church in
Switzerland
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Rhine river - cutting through central Basel , the Rhine is a splendid way to spend some hours in good weather to enjoy the sunshine. Walking along the Kleinbasel, several cafes offer outdoor seating to watch the world go by. Several bridges cross the Rhine and offer excellent vantage points over the old town which stradles the river. You can, of course, cross the Rhine in Faehri.
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Kunstmuseum Basel - The Kunstmuseum (St.Alban-Graben 16 CH-4010 Basel) is the impressive home of Basels permanent collection of medieval, Renaissance, 19th and 20th art work and includes a whole room with pieces by Picasso. St. Alban-Graben 16, city center. The Museum Für Gegenwartkunst comes under the same umbrella but is located a 10 minute walk away at St. Alban-Rheinweg 60 and focuses on contemporary art.
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Fondation Beyeler, (Baselstrasse 101, Reinach) Located around in Riehan, a suburb of Basel around 15 minutes from the centre, the Fondation Beyeler is notable for its impressive post-19th Century collection of works by Claude Monet, Paul Klee, Roy Liechtenstein, Auguste Rodin, Paul Cèzanne and Joan Miró. The collection, assembled by art dealer Ernst Beyeler, is housed in a fine building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano.
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Museum Jean Tinguely, (Paul Sacher-Anlage 1) Arrive by taking the 15 minute walk along the promenade on the Kleinbasel side of the Rhine, the Museum Jean Tinguely is home to some great animated mechanical works dedicated to Jean Tinguely and other "kinetic" artists. Tinguely is one of Basel's most prominent artists and his the Fasnachtsbrunnen (Carnival Fountain) is on public display in the square in front of Restaurant Kunsthalle on Steinenberg.
