Basel

Industrious Basel also maintains world-class art,
well-preserved history, and high sophistication

The third-largest city in Switzerland, Basel stands on the Rhine at the point where France’s, Germany’s, and Switzerland’s borders meet. Grossbasel (Greater Basel), site of the old imperial city, lies on the steep left bank, while Kleinbasel (Lesser Basel) is on the right bank. The two parts of the city are linked by a half-dozen bridges, plus four ferries.

The town was a Roman fort in A.D. 374, named Basilia, and was later ruled by prince-bishops for about 1,000 years. Eventually, Basel became one of Switzerland's most important cultural centers and oversaw the development of the printing press and the book trade. In 1516, it was in Basel that Erasmus published the first edition of the New Testament in the original Greek. Other notable Basel residents were Friedrich Nietzsche, Theodor Herzl, and Jacob Burckhardt.

Today, Basel’s cultural traditions live on in its museums (27 in all), art galleries, and schools. Connoisseurs travel here from all over the world to purchase world-class art and antiquities. Basel, a banking and industrial center, is also home to an important chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

© 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.