Basel Switzerland - The Industrial City And The Hotspot For Science in Europe
The city of Basel Switzerland is the centre of the Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The headquarters and some of their production of the worldwide well-known pharmaceutical companies Roche and Novartis have their roots in this city. It has dedicated itself quite early to humanism and the sciences. Accordingly, many successful enterprises shape the economic dynamics of this region. Basel Switzerland has developed as the hotspot for science in Europe. It is a wealthy region, but modesty is obligatory, and patronage is a matter of course. You will meet a multicultural population at the border to France and Germany. This makes this city without a doubt cosmopolitan, innovative, and international. Here you experience the "savoir-vivre and unlimited Swiss culture" from the finest. The sun-spoiled Rhine shores, dreamy lanes of the very well preserved Old Town and countless Boulevard cafés invite you for strolling and pure enjoyment. This townscape sprays culture in many facets. It has very respectable art in 35 different museums with its tradition rich collections and spectacular special exhibits. The art museum accommodates the oldest public art collection in the world. You do not just meet the art in the fullness of the museums, but everywhere in town. Art Basel, the world's premier International art show for Modern and Contemporary works takes place in mid June. So also in the neighborhood are classical ruling houses, medieval churches and modern architecture of a worldwide reputation which promise exciting contrasts. 
Basel Switzerland is the only Swiss city that does not have its own shopping centre. Sure, it has a shopping mile called "Freie Strasse" or (Free Road) right in the centre of the Old Town. But it has lost much of its noblesse over the last few years. However, it is changing and on one end of the "Freie Strasse" noble shops like Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Jil Sander, Armani, or the music house Hug and many other high-end shops are establishing themselves. The Rhine divides the city into two parts. On the right bank is "Klein Basel" (Lesser Basel) and on the right is Gross Basel (Greater Basel). It has an international airport, Euro Airport, which it shares with the French city of Mulhouse and the German city of Freiburg. Most of the airport is built on French territory. And it has become an important European rail hub and the centre of the freight division of the Swiss Federal Railways and has four Rhine ports in or close to the city. In the year 740 it became the seat of Bishop Justinianus Rauricorum. From 999 until the Reformation in the 16th century, Basel Switzerland was ruled by prince-bishops. In 1019 the construction of the cathedral of Basel (known locally as the Münster) began under German Emperor Heinrich II. The first Rhine Bridge was built between 1225 and 1226 by Bishop Heinrich von Thun. In 1356 an earthquake destroyed much of the city. More than a hundred years later in 1459, Pope Pius II endowed the Basel university, the oldest university of Switzerland. At the same time printing was introduced in Basel by apprentices of Gutenberg. In 1501 Basel de facto separated from the Holy Roman Empire and joined the Swiss Confederation as 11th state (canton). The first anatomy (humani corporis fabrica) book was published and printed in Basel by Andreas Vesalius in 1543. Places Of Interest in Basel Switzerland Basel on the bend of the Rhine River offers a big variety of sights and places of interest. It does not matter whether you are interested in modern architecture, museums, historical churches, or art in public places, it is best to discover Basel on foot. This especially true in the Old Town, where the various places of interest are close together. Some of the sights that You should definitely see are: Tinquely Museum Jean Tinquely was a famous iron sculptor to which this museum was dedicated. It was opened in October 1996 and is financed by the big pharmaceutical company F. Hoffmann - La Roche SA. The permanent exhibition shows his works ranging from the beginnings in the 1950s with his motor-driven relief’s, the scrap metal assemblages of the sixties, the drawing machines, to the black-painted machine structures, as well as large sculptures and the pan demonic cycles of his final phase. Swiss architect Mario Botta planned and constructed the Tinquely Museum. It has different spatial structures whose dimensions and character enter into a dialogue with the various groups of works. Museum Jean Tinquely Opening hours Tinquely Fountain In 1977 Jean Tinquely placed amusing machine sculptures in an enormous pool of water where formerly stood the old Town Theatre. This sculpture is also the same and yet it may change every time you visit it. At times in the wintertime, the steel constructions are almost completely covered with ice, and another time they may shine in the sunlight. The artist's work enjoys such a great popularity in Basel that he has endowed the town with a new symbol of its identity. It is really worth to have a look at them if you are visiting the down-town area, because Jean Tinquely has created something, which will never be old-fashioned. Fondation Beyeler Ernst Beyeler is certainly one of the world's most renowned gallery owners and collectors. Over 180 classical modern works and a number of tribal art objects have been accumulated by Ernst Beyeler and the help of his wife Hilde. The museum building was designed by Renzo Piano. The museum was opened to the public in 1997. Important 20th-century paintings by Picasso, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet, Lichtenstein, Bacon, and Warhol highlight can be admired. The Classical Modern works are placed alongside some 25 tribal art objects from Africa, Alaska, and Oceania. Fondation Beyeler Opening hours Marktplatz and Town Hall Almost every day, except on Sundays, the medieval Marktplatz is the scene of a lively open market where you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, or flowers. The Marktplatz is dominated by the Town Hall (Rathaus) which is the seat of the government of the Canton of Basel-City and serves as the city counsel. The Town Hall has been located at this same place since the 14th century. Quite a bit away from the Town Hall is the seat of the former ruler of the city, the Prince-Bishop, who resided on the Cathedral Hill. This separation shows that the burghers of the town, with their growing economic strength in the 14th century, sought independence from the bishop. At the beginning of the 16th century the front part of the existing Town Hall was replaced by a prestigious new building. One hundred years later at the beginning of the 17th century, the Rathaus was enlarged and the now bigger facade was painted by Hans Bock with mock architectural features. The Rathaus received a further extension in 1900 when a wing on the extreme left and the tower on the right were added. The structural forms of the old parts were incorporated into the new buildings. Cathedral On the Cathedral Hill is where the history of Basel Switzerland as an urban settlement begins. Celts from the tribe of the Rauricii lived there in a fortified"oppidum" in the first century. If you go along the Rittergasse, the remains of the "Celtic Wall" can be seen in windows let into the ground. Roman troops constructed a military base on Cathedral Hill on the border between the Roman Empire and the Germanic tribes in the year 15 BC. The first discernible traces of a cathedral date from the Carolingian period. However, this building was destroyed in 917 when the town was attacked by the Hungarians. Emperor Henry II endowed Basel with a magnificent new cathedral at the beginning of the 11th century. In the last quarter of the 12th century, Henry's cathedral was replaced by a late Romanesque building, which was restored in 1356 in the Gothic style after a devastating earthquake. In 1529, the people of that region fully converted to the Protestant faith. After the bishop left the city, the empty residences were purchased by wealthy merchants and converted in the 18th century to the late baroque and neo-classical style. The Münsterplatz became a quiet, prosperous residential quarter and today the square is used for different events or meeting people. With its red sandstone walls, multicolored roof tiles and twin towers, the Cathedral is a dominant feature of the city. Cathedral in Basel - Opening hours Winter, 16th of October - Good Friday Zoological Garden For high-end travelers who have vacationed in many different countries, visiting a zoological garden is not that special since literally every bigger city has one. Anyway you could still spend a nice relaxing afternoon in the sun and enjoy the flora and fauna of exotic and less exotic countries. The Zoological Garden is open since 1874 and known to us Swiss simply as the "Zolli. Some 6000 animals live here and nearly a million people visit the Zolli every year. This makes it the most frequently visited tourist attraction in all of Switzerland. Over the years many new facilities have been added. One of the zoo's many highlights is the Etoschahaus, which gives a spectacular insight into the rhythm of the life in the Namibian savanna. It is a big area and home to ostriches, elephants, big cats, and fascinating marine creatures. The vivarium is also of the highlights of the zoo. In this building with its many corners, you will travel on a journey round the world and at the same time follow the process of evolution. St. Johanns-Tor (St. John Gate) The St. Johann's -Tor was built after 1356. After the 1356 earthquake, the gate was part of the third medieval ring of the fortifications that were constructed around the whole city. The outer ring of wars provided space for about 20,000 people, which was about the population of Basel Switzerland for 450 years. The city wall and ditch extended from the St. Johann's-Tor until down to the Rhine. The Pfalz The word "Pfalz" is derived from the Latin word "Palatium" and means palace. It is a terrace high above the Rhine behind the Cathedral and the residence of the bishop of Basel Switzerland was in the immediate vicinity. The view from the "Pfalz" over the Old town and as far out into the Three-Countries Corner is just magnificent. Stairs are leading from the landing stage of the Münsterfähre up to the Pfalz. The ferry is attached to a wire rope stretched across the Rhine and propelled across the broad river purely by the force of the current. There are three other ferries in Basel Switzerland, quite popular tourist attractions for both young and old. The Ferries Four ferries cross the Rhine between various bridges in Basel Switzerland. They are integrated into the public transport facility and travel across the river without a motor and propelled by the force of the current. Which means that the ferry rides are not just used by the tourists but also by the local people. High-End Restaurants in Basel Switzerland Bruderholz This elegant restaurant is the first VIP-address of the city, the restaurant of the prominence. The GaultMillau guide Switzerland rated it with 18 points in 2007. The service of this restaurant brigade is very impressive and the food outstanding. The menu includes such specialties as sliced veal kidneys in a tarragon vinaigrette sauce, filet of saltwater red mullet with coriander, and lobster ragout with truffles and baby leeks. Charon The last time we visited this restaurant it was full and guests choose especially the offers in season as we did. As a starter we had ragout with asparagus, sausages on green lenses, and ravioli with rabbit. If you make reservations ahead, you will be served the whole "Turbo" in top form. We were especially surprised by the Emmental steak as well as the vegetables ragout with its sauce. The 1996 Barolo wine fitted excellently to our food. Chez Donati The best place in "Chez Donati" is for most regular guests, the table "Venezia. It is probably the nicest and most famous restaurant of Basel Switzerland. World-famous artists like Jean Tinquely, Andy Warhol and others were there quite often. On the walls you can admire the signed works from many artists. As for the food, well it is one of the best traditional Italian gourmet cuisine in Switzerland. Les Trois Rois It is an impressive establishment: Only ten round tables stand in a room with high ceilings, the candle light flickering, even the Hahnenburger is served in the noblest decanters, and at the front whirl two professionals. The elegant Chef is Grégory Rohmer, and Philippe Bouffey, who is one of the best Sommeliers of our country. Try it next time you are in Basel Switzerland. Restaurant Les Quatre Saisons This high-end restaurant is located in the hotel Europe. The gourmet cuisine is served mixed. It combines the flavors of our surrounding countries. That means Swiss, German, French and Italian favorites. Also on the menu of the Quatre Season's are tasty seafood specialties. Restaurant Bel Etage im Teufelhof At the Bel Etage, business people feel comfortable just like families and lovers. The offers are always market-fresh products with à la carte dishes and menus. To every dish is served the suitable wine by the glass with more than 450 on the wine-list. Michael Baader with his culinary brigade and service make every visit an experience. Restaurant Rollerhof The Rollerhof has beautiful dining rooms and offers excellent menues in a comfortable atmosphere. Other restaurants in Basel highly recommended are the... Restaurant Cheval Blanc Restaurant Bonvivant Restaurant Kittipon (Restaurant Krone) Nightlife in Basel Switzerland Campari Bar This bar is located behind the Art Gallery of Basel Switzerland and just across from the funky fountain designed by artist Jean Tinquely. It is a longtime favorite of bohemian artists and the wealthy. Grand Casino Gambling is done on 5000 square meters with 290 slot machines, 17 Black Jack tables, tropical stud poker, French and American roulette. It is not Las Vegas, but small and cozy with three bars, two restaurants, and banquets. Open daily from 12pm - 3:00am. Consum If are visiting Basel Switzerland and are looking for a comfortable bar, the Consum is a must. It is open after 5 pm. The city of Basel also has some fine clubs like... Das Schiff, Westquaistr. 19, Tel. 061 631 42 40 Annex and Kuppel, Binningerstr. 14, Tel. 061 283 00 70 Nordstern, Voltastr. 30, Tel. 061 383 80 60
5-Star Hotels in Basel Switzerland Hotel Les Trois Rois The Les Trois Rois Hotel - Three Kings Hotel - is one of the oldest hotels in Europe. Its location on the river Rhine in the city center is unique. Within strolling distance are the exhibition center and shops, museums and theatres. In addition, for dining you have three choices with terraces and pretty views - the Brasserie, the gourmet restaurant Cheval Blanc and the nearby "Chez Donati". Hotel Hilton Basel The Hilton Basel Switzerland is located in the centre of Basel Switzerland, close to the train station. From the executive lounge on the eighth floor, you will have a pretty view over the city. At the Wettstein restaurant, you can enjoy regional and international cuisine. Visit the Old Town, which is only a 10-minute walk away. Return from Basel Switzerland to Swiss Cities Return from Basel Switzerland to High-End-Travel-Switzerland
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This city is also the cultural capital of Switzerland with nationally high-carat art offers and imposing architectural contemporary witnesses. 
The city of Basel Switzerland, called "Basilea" in Latin, was built from a Roman military camp in connection with the Roman colony of Augusta Raurica in 374 CE. 