Bets of Basel.
City ProfileLocation: Canton Basel
Altitude: 243 m above sea level.
Inhabitants: 190,000
Old Stuff
Nestled in the 'Three Countries Corner' of Germany, France and Switzerland, Basel is located on both banks of the Rhine. A look back in time reveals that the Celts and Romans left an important heritage here, and art and culture still occupy a prominent place in this former humanist centre.
Cultural Offerings:
Basel is proud of its cultural offering. In proportion to its size, no other European town offers so many museums; it can count over 30 in an area of 37 square kilometres.
Besides the renowned Kunstmuseum, which houses one of the world's oldest art collections open to the public, Basel has several other museums whose reputation extends far beyond national frontiers. For instance, the place boasts of the Fondation Beyeler, Museum Jean Tinguely, Antikenmuseum, the Historische Museum or the Museum der Kulturen. Museums, exhibition rooms and galleries present a rich variety of contemporary art.
* In addition, during the art fair, Art Basel, Basel plays host to an immense display of international 20th- and 21st-century art.
* Note: For six months in 2004, Basel will host to one of the world's greatest cultural legacies: From April 7 to October 3, 2004, the Basel Museum of Ancient Art and Ludwig Collection, will stage the exhibition "Tutankhamun--The Golden Beyond".
After Paris in 1967, London in 1972 and Germany in 1980-81, treasures from the tomb of the legendary Pharaoh will be returning to Europe for the first time in over 20 years.
Cuisine
With the city's enormous range of culinary offerings, every visitor can be sure of enjoying himself to the hilt. Cuisines from across the world are found in the city.
Here are some suggested unique and gourmet restaurants:
* Cantina Don Camillo
On the second floor of the former Warteck brewery (Burgweg 7), it offers a large choice of vegetarian dishes. Reservation recommended. Mid-scale prices.
* Restaurant Cafe, Spitz
Top fish cuisine in a historic place (Greifengasse 2), it offers creative and traditional dishes from fresh and saltwater fish. Beautiful Rhine terrace for a fish dinner, a glass of wine or an ice cream seem ideal. www.merian-hotel.ch
* Restaurant Dreilandereck
With exceptional architecture and a fantastic view, it presents selected culinary highlights--fresh fish and seafood. Regional specialties, inspired from the cuisines of the three bordering countries: France, Germany and Switzerland.
Westquaistrasse 75, www.dreilaendereck.ch
* Restaurant zur Schuhmachernzunft
In the heart of the old town, near the market square (Hutgasse 6), this restaurant is distinguished and warm. It offers creative seasonal cuisine, carefully selected wines and organises business lunches. Reservation recommended. www.schuhmachernzunft.ch
Local goodies
* Basler Lackerli
One of Basel's greatest culinary specialties, Laeckerli, is more than just a cookie.
Made in Basel since the late Middle Ages, this honey cake (with cinnamon flavour) has spawned an enormous business with branches in Basel (main store), Bern, Lausanne, Muenchenstein, St. Gallen and Zurich.
This classic Swiss cookie gets its name from the way kids often suck on them--the way they do a lollipop.
* Unser Bier
The local beer brewery was founded in 1997 after a couple of home-brewers displayed their home-brewed beers and its home-production at a Basel fair. (www.unser.bier.ch)
* Vine: Im Schlipf
Basel's local wine is being produced in the vineyard "Im Schlipf" in Riehen (suburb of Basel). The wine-growing tradition in Riehen goes back over 1,200 years. Since 1979, Riehen is cultivating the lower part of the "Trullinger Hill" with its viniculture.
Going Out
* Cafe Bar Des Art's
A place to see and be seen. Popular for over 20 years, it offers lunch specials, French bistro cuisine, over 200 cocktails, single malts, old Port wines, rare spirits, cigar lounge.
* Atlantis
Concerts, club nights with star DJs, after-work parties with excellent food, fine spirits and cocktails, beautiful terrace on the roof and dining in a Mediterranean atmosphere (www.atlan-tis.ch)
* Babalabar
Nice cocktail bar and dance club with a different theme every night of the week. On Mondays, you have Tropical music, Salsa and Merengue. On Wednesdays, its student party and on Fridays you have the Kinky House party (www.babalabar.ch).
* Campari Bar
In the heart of the city, the Campari Bar offers an elegant yet casual atmosphere and has beautiful garden. (www.restaurantkunsthalle.ch)
* Discothek Mad Max
This is Basel's largest club-discotheque with two floors and a strictly selected crowd. Minimum age to enter is 28 years. The discotheque is situated in the city, a minute from the car parkings Heuwaage and Steinen. You can sway along with pop, dance rock, classic disco, Latin pop, Club house, trance and other party hits.
* May Day Dance Club
Go party in a unique atmosphere with contemporary dance music hits. Timings: Thursday from 10pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday from 11pm to 5am. The Club is situated at the summer boulevard bar "Caliente" on the most crowded pedestrian street (www.maydaydanceclub.ch)
Sleeping Over
* Hotel Drel Konige *****
The oldest hotel in Europe. Since 1026, Hotel Three Kings stands in the heart of Basel. It is a favourite meeting place for the city's high society. It boasts of 88 luxury furnished rooms and suites, a marvelous view of the Rhine from the terrace and two restaurants with exquisite cuisine. (www.dreikoenige-basel.ch)
* Hotel Royal ****
It has 15 individually designed rooms with every comfort to unite the needs of work and relaxation, Selected design, timeless elegance, functional furnishings. Less is more. (www.royal-hotel.ch)
* Hotel Der Teufelhof Basel ***
Art and gallery-hotel with gourmet restaurant, 'Bel Etage', restaurant 'Weinstube', vine-shop 'Falstaff, coffee shop, bar, garden, theatre and exhibitions. It also has 33 rooms in a complex of five houses in the old town. (www.teufelhof.com).
* Hotel Au Violon ***
Charming little hotel with 20 rooms, located in a historical building in the heart of the old city (old jail), it also has a French brasserie with garden. There are quiet rooms towards the courtyard and also rooms that face the city. (www.au-violon.com)
* Basel back-pack
With a cosy atmosphere, good service, advice and interesting surroundings on the Gundeldinger Feld Estate, it is just 7 min walking distance from the SBB main station. (www.baselbackpack.ch)
Tips
In summer: Rhine swimming is fun. In August, there's an official and traditional Rhine Swimming Day, where thousands of citizens participate.
swiss cities
Basel Tourismus
Aeschenvorstadt 36, 4002 Basel
Tel. 061 268 68 68
Fax. 061 268 68 70
www.baseltourismus.ch
office@baseltourismus.ch
Events:
01.03.04-03.03.04 Basler Fasnacht (Carnival in Basel), Basel City Centre, www.fasnacht.ch
02.04.04-03.04.04 Al Capone Blues Festival--Music festival, Stadtcasino Basel, www.blues-festival-basel.ch
09.04.04-12.04.04 Internationales Tangofestival, www.tangobasel.ch
15.04.04-22.04.04 Baselworld--The watch and jewellery Show,Messe Basel, www.baselworld.com
25.04.04-05.05.04 Internationales Jazz Festival--Music festival, www.jsb.ch
07.05.04-09.05.04 BuchBasel & literary festival, Messe Basel. www.buchbasel.ch
11.06.04-13.06.04 Little Big One--Openair-Music Festival. www.littlbigone.com
15.06.04-20.06.04 Liste04 (art fair), Messe Basel, www.liste.ch
16.08.04-21.06.04 Art Basel--International Art Show, Messe Basel, www.art.com
22.07.04-14.08.04 OrangeCinema--Openair-Cinema Munsterplatz, www.orangecinema.ch
31.07.04-23.08.04 S'isch im Fluss--Cultural raft on the Rhine (Music Raft), Rhein. www.imfluss.ch
10.08.04 Official Basel Rhine Swim. Rhein. www.slrg-nw.ch
13.08.04 Em Bebby sy Jazz--Jazzfestival
21.08.04-05.09.04 Welt in Basel--International Theatre Festival Kaserne Basel, www.weltinbasel.ch
22.09.04-25.09.04 Orbit/Comdex 2004--International Computer Fair, Messe Basel, www.orbit.ch
23.10.04-07.11.04 Baster Herbstmesse--annual fair, Basler Innenstadt, www.messen-maerkte.ch
05.11.04-21.11.04 AVO Session 2004--Music festival, Festsaal Messe Basel, www.avo.ch
27.11.04 Basler Town Run, Basler Innenstadt, www.stadtlauf.ch
25.11.04-23.12.04 Christmas Market Basel, Basler Innenstadt www.baslerweihnacht.ch
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| Title Annotation: | Swiss Cities |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Swiss News |
| Date: | Mar 1, 2004 |
| Words: | 1326 |
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