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This is what the heart of Europe looks like: a river,that connects instead of dividing, and bridges that even cross language barriers. Meanwhile, the dividing lines between neighbouring countries are only clearly marked on maps. Switzerland's third-largest city is one such place: Basel. OneMetropolis at the border trianglewhere the country meets France and Germany. Although the Swiss Confederation is not even in the EU, treaties ensure that you can still feel almost borderless.
People speak Swiss German, High German or even French, which is called Bâle. And Basilea in the Latin "original". But Basel is even more international.
One reason for this is that youin the financial and pharmaceutical sector plays a major role. The other is Switzerland's oldest and perhaps best-known university. There are many opportunities for encounters, including at the city's landmark, the Mittlere Brücke. For exampleat the "Im Fluss" festival "In the river" where the sounds of the whole world come together every year in July and August - played on a floating stage in the Rhine, right next to the fairway. So get off the boat and into the colourful life!
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You can't argue about art. The fact that the "pylon" (above) at the border triangle resembles a rocket - no problem! It is actually supposed to be a ship's propeller. That's more fitting, as the centrepiece also marks the entrance to theRhine harbour with the district headquarters marked (at the top). Immediately to the south is theBasel Marina - first address for guests on their own keel. (...)
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You can easily relax by the river in Basel: firstly, there are the cafés,Cosy summer barson the former site of the Klybeck harbour, now a colourful, alternative neighbourhood. Or the promenade on the north bank of Kleinbasel - also dotted with cafés. There is also the Birskopf, which can be seen above: a park with sunbathing lawns on the south bank, where the small river Birs flows into the Rhine. When the water is low in summer, a beach even appears here, in front of which boat traffic to and from the Rhine can pass.Birsfelden double lock slowly passes by. The "Veranda Pellicanò" with genuine "Einsiedler" from the canton of Schwyz or non-alcoholic "Rivella" in red or blue provide refreshment on land in between. By the way: in Switzerland, people call each other by name when toasting. A nice gesture! http://www.veranda-pellicano.ch
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Thanks to a history that stretches back to Roman times and, since the Renaissance at the latest, testifies to a certain power and corresponding prosperity, the greater Basel area on the left bank of the Rhine can today boast aopulent old town can boast. These include the city wall, Spalentor gate and many town houses as well as the town hall and the famous
and the famous red sandstone cathedral. The alleyways are a fun place to go shopping - for example at one of the manyChocolatiers...
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There is a lot going on on the water: in addition to freight shipping, sports skippers share the buoyed fairway mainly with excursion boats and - downstream - with river cruisers. In the city area, the fourtraditional yaw rope ferrieswithout a motor, pushed by the current. They have beautiful names such as "Leu", "Ueli" and "Vogel Gryff". The "river swimmers" also let themselves drift. They stow their clothes in waterproof, air-filled bags, which are available to buy everywhere. In hot weather, they pass by in a never-ending procession. However, law enforcement officers are always on hand.
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In 1501, the city of Basel joined Switzerland as a canton. To proudly express its new status, the city immediately built thetown hall that has been preserved to this daya magnificent representative building made of red sandstone, which celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2014. Inside and out, the city's white and black coat of arms - the"Baselstab".
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The first two barrages of the navigable Rhine are located on Swiss territory: Augst at river kilometre 155.5 LU and Birsfelden (km 163.5 LU) directly above the urban area. The next lock does not follow until the course of the Rhine side canal in Kembs, France (kilometre 179.1 RU). Birsfelden has two chambers with usable lengths of 180 and 190 metres and a lift of eight metres.14,000 ships are channelled here every year.
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Big, bigger? Basel isHofmann-La Roche Headquartersone of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. The highly visible headquarters are located in the 178 metre high Roche Tower on the north bank of the Rhine, which was only completed in 2015. Voluntarily or involuntarily, the white wedge has become a new landmark of the city. But that's not all: right next to it - recognisable by the cranes - a "twin" measuring 205 metres is currently growing. What a miracle of medicine...
You can read this article in the October issue 2018 from BOOTE. Or you can download the PDF for the test below.
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