Sights in Basel

Basel lies in the extreme northwest of Switzerland, where the Rhine changes direction and splits into the Upper Rhine and High Rhine. The city extends on both sides of the river and borders Germany to the north, municipalities of the canton of Basel-Landschaft to the east, and French towns to the west. With Münsterplatz at 270 metres above sea level and the St. Chrischona television tower at 522 metres above sea level, the canton shows considerable differences in elevation, despite being the smallest in Switzerland by area.

Basel is first mentioned in the 4th century as Basilia, when the Roman Emperor Valentinian I had a fortress built nearby. The city soon developed into an important trading centre thanks to its location at a transport hub. In the 15th century, the University of Basel was founded, the oldest in Switzerland, and in the 19th century the first Zionist Congress took place here.

Basel is known as Switzerland’s cultural capital and houses almost 40 museums, including the world’s oldest publicly accessible art museum. It is also a leading global centre of the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry, home to the headquarters of international corporations. With its high quality of life, it ranks among the ten cities with the best quality of life worldwide.