Wander the winding streets of Basel's medieval Old Town, past the playful
Tinguely Fountain and onto the dominant 11th-century Münster
cathedral. If you need a break, stop for a coffee and the local speciality biscuit
Basler Läckerli. Then do some people-watching on the bustling
Marktplatz square. Save some time to stroll down Basel's main
shopping street, Freie Strasse, while browsing for boutique fashions. To get more
out of Basel, hop on a riverboat and take a trip out to see Augst's
Roman ruins.
Background
You'll see from the Old Town's fine medieval and Renaissance
architecture that Basel has done well for itself over the centuries. Unlike most of
Switzerland, Basel is set on flat land on the banks of the River Rhine.
Facing the Old Town across the river, you'll find the more
residential and commercial Kleinbasel district. Today Basel is a centre of
finance and pharmaceuticals. But you'll also see that Basel has a long
artistic tradition too – it's home to the world's oldest
public art collection, dating back to 1661, and the internationally popular Art
Basel contemporary arts festival.
First-time visit
Explore the smart shopping streets like Freie Strasse between the Old
Town's two main squares, Marktplatz and lively
Barfüsserplatz. Stop to watch water spurting from the mechanical
Tinguely Fountain or to pick up honey, almond and cherry-flavoured
Basler Läckerli biscuits from Basel's little bakeries.
Step inside the city's red sandstone medieval Münster cathedral or
visit the Kunstmuseum for 15th-18th-century local art. Cross the river to
find more contemporary art at the Fondation Beyeler in the suburb of
Riehen.
Return visit
With around 40 museums to get round you'll probably need to make a return
visit to Basel. Head for the Tinguely Museum for fascinating mechanical
sculptures, mostly built from scrap metal. Out of town, take a daytrip 12 miles east
of Basel to Augst where extensive ruins and reconstructions vividly recreate
the Roman port town of Augusta Raurica. You can get there by train, but a fun
alternative is to travel on one of Basel's regular riverboats.
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