Top Sights to See in Historical Basel in Switzerland

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by Henk Bekker

in Basel, Switzerland

The Romanesque-Gothic Minster (Münster), the historic Rathaus on Marktplatz, the old streets in the Spalenberg area, fountains, excellent museums, and panoramic Rhine River views are the best sights to see in Basel, Switzerland.

View of the Rhine from Basel Minster Pfalz

The Swiss city Basel, on the Rhine River at the border with Germany and France, is one of the top cultural centers to visit in Switzerland. The beautiful old town center has interesting streets, squares, and Rhine promenades to explore. Historic highlights are the old town hall (Rathaus) and the Romanesque-Gothic Minster (Münster). Basel has several excellent museums, including the Kunstmuseum, which is arguably the most important fine arts museum in Switzerland. The center of Basel is easy to explore on foot, but good public transportation makes it easy to explore the outskirts of the city and top nearby sights such as the Foundation Beyeler art gallery and Vitra Design Museum.

Romanesque-Gothic Basler Münster (Basel Minster)

The Basler Münster's twin towers are from the 15th century. The Georgenturm (George Tower) to the north is at 65 m, 3 m higher than the Martinsturm (Martin Tower) to the south.

The Romanesque-Gothic Basler Münster (Basel Minster) is the top historical and architectural sight to see in Basel. This large church on Münsterberg Hill towers over the old town and the Rhine River valley. Its origins are twelfth-century Romanesque, but most of what is visible today is late medieval Gothic.

The Minster in Basel is famous for its highly decorative Romanesque St. Gallen portal (Galluspforte), where Christ sits in judgment on the tympanum. The western facade is more restrained, as decorations here and in the interior were removed following the Reformation.

European humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam (1469-1536) is buried in the Basler Münster. Several other graves and tombs are artistically more interesting than his rather plain epitaph.

Visitors may enjoy the magnificent views of the Rhine River Valley for free from the terrace (Pfalz) behind the church. Here, on the outside of the choir, find the Romanesque elephants carved out of stone. Also, explore the Gothic cloisters with brass market stalls.

Red Historical Basel Town Hall (Rathaus)

Basel’s historical Rathaus is on the busy Marktplatz (market square) in the center of the old town. The reddish building was built during the early 16th century but restored and enlarged around 1900. Frescoes, mostly with justice as theme, were painted in 1610 by Hans Bock.

Basel’s historical Rathaus is on the busy Marktplatz (market square) in the center of the old town. The reddish building was built during the early 16th century, but restored and enlarged around 1900.

Frescoes, mostly with justice as theme, were painted in 1610 by Hans Bock. The large statue is of the Roman Munatius Plancus, the legendary Roman who is said to have founded the city in 44 BC.

  • Basel’s heraldic animal is the basilisk, a dragon with a snake’s tail and a rooster’s head. It features on the city seal and some fountains.

Spalenberg Old Streets and Best Shopping in Basel

The Spalenberg area is a favorite with shoppers and sightseers. Chain-store brands are mostly absent from these small shops and cafés that line the narrow and often steep alleys that lead uphill from Marktplatz and the adjacent Fischmarktplatz (Fish Market).

Although Basel City has a population of only around 180,00, the larger region has well over a million fairly wealthy inhabitants. The quality of shopping in Basel is excellent (and prices often high too).

Fountains in Basel

Carnival Fountain (Fasnachtsbrunnen) (1977) Tinguely fountain in Basel.

Like most Swiss cities, Basel’s old town has an abundance of fountains. According to the Basel tourist office, 170 are scattered through the city center. Most fountains spew out drinking water.

The Gothic fountain on the Fischmarktplatz is the most beautiful but the modern Carneval Fountain (Fastnachtsbrunnen) with working machines is the most entertaining. It was designed by local Swiss artist Jean Tinguely.

Best Museums in Basel, Switzerland

Visit the Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland's premier art museum, to see Franz Marc: Tierschicksale in Kunstmuseum Basel

Basel has some of the best museums in Switzerland. The most famous include:

  • The Kunstmuseum Basel (Basel Art Museum) is especially famous for the 15th to 17th-century as well as 19th to 20th-century paintings. This is arguably the best art collection in Switzerland.
  • The Museum Tinguely has large moving sculptures and kinetic art by Jean Tinguely.
  • The Historisches Museum (History) has historical objects and a large collection of musical instruments.
  • The Antikenmuseum (Antiquities) has mostly Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts.
  • The Museum der Kulturen (Culture/Ethnography) has items from all over the world.

Two art galleries near Basel are worth visiting too — both are excellent half-day trips from the city:

  • The Fondation Beyeler in Riehen exhibits the founders’ modern art exhibition, but is mostly famous for blockbuster special exhibitions.
  • The Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein (Germany) is one of the largest furniture and interior design museums in the world. Frank O. Gehry designed the main museum building (1989).

Transportation to Basel

Tram Transportation in Basel

Basel’s location at the junction of Switzerland, Germany, and France ensures excellent transportation links. The Rhine River is of lesser use for passenger transportation, but fast highways and railway links run northwards on both sides of the Rhine.

The TGV Lyria trains run from Basel via Strasbourg to Paris, while GermanyICE trains connect directly to Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Frankfurt am Main, and beyond. Trains into the rest of Switzerland are very frequent too, with excellent connections to, amongst others Bern and Zurich. The main train station is often referred to as Basel SBB, while Basel Bad or Bädischer Bahnhof is on the north side of the Rhine and the terminus for some trains from Germany.

Basel Airport (BSL) is conveniently located just to the north of Basel in French territory. The airport is used jointly by Switzerland, France, and Germany and the full name is a mouthful – Euro Airport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg. Passport controls between the French and Swiss sectors at the airport were ended, but customs checks may still be made at any time when crossing the Swiss border to any European Union member state.

Basel Airport (BSL) is a good bet for cheap flights on low-cost airlines. Cheap tickets and discounted fares are more likely on flights to Basel than to either Strasbourg or Zurich airports.

More Sights to See in Basel, Switzerland

Basel Minster on the Rhine River

Basel, on the Rhine River and bordering Germany and France, is an interesting city to explore:

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