Basel

Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland, sitting on the river Rhine. It is Switzerland's third largest city, with over 177,000 people living there.

Basel is known as the cultural capital of Switzerland. It has many museums. The Kunstmuseum, the first public art collection in the world, and the Fondation Beyeler are two of its forty museums. These make Basel a top cultural spot in Europe.

The University of Basel, founded in 1460, is Switzerland's oldest university. Many important thinkers have lived in Basel, including Erasmus of Rotterdam and Friedrich Nietzsche. The city is also a key place for art, with Art Basel being the world's most famous art fair.

Basel has a strong history in science and industry. It is a major center for pharmaceutical companies like Novartis and Roche. In 1938, Albert Hofmann discovered LSD here. The city has been home to many famous people, such as tennis star Roger Federer. Basel is also known for its local German dialect and was named one of the most livable cities in the world.

Name

The name of Basel was first recorded in 237 or 238 as Basilia. This name refers to a Roman castle. The name probably comes from an old estate named after a person called Basilius. Over time, the name changed. Today, the city is usually called Basel. In the past, it was also known as Basle in English and French, but that form is now less common.

History

The Roman theatre in Augusta Raurica, one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in Switzerland

Basel has a long and interesting history. People lived near the Rhine river as far back as the 5th century BC. The town grew bigger under Roman rule.

In the Middle Ages, Basel became an important city in Europe. It built its first city walls, bridges, and groups for trades. The city became well-known for its universities and printing. Later, Basel joined the Swiss Confederation and became part of modern Switzerland. Today, Basel is famous for its museums, international meetings, and historic buildings.

Geography and climate

Basel (in the upper left corner) as seen from Bettingen (television tower St. Chrischona) facing France

Basel is located in Northwestern Switzerland near where the borders of Switzerland, France, and Germany meet. The city has suburbs in both France and Germany. The area around Basel is part of a larger group of towns and cities called the Trinational Eurodistrict of Basel, which includes places in all three countries.

Basel sits in a flat valley with the Rhine River flowing through it. The river splits the city into two parts: Grossbasel on one side and Kleinbasel on the other. The city has a mix of buildings, roads, and some green spaces. The climate in Basel is mild, with cool winters and warm summers. Rain or snow falls about 118 days each year, and the city gets an average of 842 mm of precipitation annually. May is usually the wettest month.

Politics

The city of Basel is the capital of the Swiss half-canton of Basel-Stadt.

The canton Basel-Stadt has three areas: Riehen, Bettingen, and the city of Basel. The city and canton share the same government.

Basel's government has an Executive Council with seven members. Voters choose these members every four years. The council meets in the historic Town Hall, built between 1504 and 1514. The current president is Beat Jans. The council has members from different political parties.

The city's parliament is called the Grand Council. It has 100 members who are also elected every four years. They meet in the Town Hall and represent many political groups. The last elections were in October 2020.

Demographics

The canton of Basel has about 202,000 people. Many of these people were born in Basel, while others came from different parts of Switzerland or other countries. The city has many homes and apartments where families and single people live.

St. Paul's Church, a Reformed Church in Basel

Language

Most people in Basel speak German. Some also speak Italian or French, and a few speak Romansh.

Religion

People in Basel have many different beliefs. Some belong to the Roman Catholic or Swiss Reformed Church. Others follow Orthodox, Christian Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, or Hindu traditions. Many people do not follow any specific religion.

Largest groups of foreign residents 2021
Nationality	Number	% total (foreigners)
Germany	16,562	8.2 (22.3)
Italy	8,671	4.3 (11.7)
Turkey	5,741	2.8 (7.7)
Spain	4,176	2.0 (5.6)
Portugal	3,390	1.7 (4.6)
France	2,393	1.2 (3.2)
Kosovo	2,186	1.1 (2.9)
United Kingdom	2,132	1.1 (2.7)
North Macedonia	2,095	1.0 (2.8)
Serbia	1,797	0.9 (2.4)
India	1,661	0.8 (2.2)
USA	1,629	0.8 (2.2)
Austria	1,273	0.6 (1.7)

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	27,844	—
1860	38,692	+39.0%
1870	44,868	+16.0%
1880	61,737	+37.6%
1888	71,131	+15.2%
1900	109,161	+53.5%
1910	132,276	+21.2%
1920	135,976	+2.8%
1930	148,063	+8.9%
1941	162,105	+9.5%
1950	183,543	+13.2%
1960	206,746	+12.6%
1970	212,857	+3.0%
1980	182,143	−14.4%
1990	178,428	−2.0%
2000	166,558	−6.7%
2010	163,216	−2.0%
2020	173,863	+6.5%
Source:

Infrastructure

Basel is divided into 19 areas called quarters. Nearby, there are two small towns called Riehen and Bettingen that are part of the same region as Basel.

Basel has many ways to get around. It has Switzerland’s only place where goods are moved by boats along the Rhine River, connecting to big ships at the port of Rotterdam. There are three main train stations in Basel, linking the city to Switzerland, France, and Germany. The city also has many roads, bridges, and ferries to help people travel easily. Basel’s public transport includes trams and buses that connect the city and nearby areas.

Quartier	Area	Population (March 2012)	Population density (people/km2)
Altstadt Grossbasel (historic city)	37.63	2,044	5,431.8
Vorstädte (historical suburbs)	89.66	4,638	5,172.9
Am Ring	90.98	10,512	11,554.2
Breite	68.39	8,655	12,655.4
St. Alban	294.46	10,681	3,633
Gundeldingen	123.19	18,621	15,140
Bruderholz	259.61	9,006	3,477
Bachletten	151.39	13,330	8,830
Gotthelf	46.62	6,784	14,551.7
Iselin	109.82	16,181	14,840
St. Johann	223.90	18,560	8,323
Altstadt Kleinbasel (historic city)	24.21	2,276	9,401
Clara	23.66	4,043	17,088
Wettstein	75.44	5,386	7,139.4
Hirzbrunnen	305.32	8,676	2,845
Rosental	64.33	5,180	8,052
Mattäus	59.14	16,056	27,149.1
Klybeck	91.19	7,234	7,932.9
Kleinhüningen	136.11	2,772	2,038
City of Basel	2275.05	178,120	7,847
Bettingen	222.69	1,248	567
Riehen	1086.10	21,788	2,017
Canton of Basel-Stadt	3583.84	201,156	5,619

Economy

Basel is a busy city with many jobs and important companies. In 2018, most people in Basel worked in services like shops, hotels, and banks. Many women worked there, making up almost half of all workers.

Some of the biggest companies in Basel make medicine and chemicals. Famous names like Novartis and Hoffmann-La Roche have offices here. Basel is also where the Bank for International Settlements is located. This special bank helps other banks talk to each other and make rules to keep money safe.

The city has tall buildings, like the Roche Tower, which is the tallest in Switzerland. Basel is also a place where people share ideas, with many trade shows for art, watches, and building.

Education

Basel is a special place for learning, especially in mathematics and science. Famous thinkers like Leonhard Euler and the Bernoulli family have worked and taught here. The city is home to the University of Basel, Switzerland's oldest university, founded in 1460. Many important people, including Erasmus and Carl Gustav Jung, have studied or worked there. Today, the university is known around the world for its quality.

Many students go to school in Basel. Many of these students speak a language other than German at home. Basel has several international schools, such as the International School Basel and the BLIS Baselland International School, to help children from different countries learn together. The city has many libraries, including the main university library, which has millions of books and other materials for people to borrow and read.

Culture

The red sandstone Münster is a famous building in Basel. It has a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. An earthquake damaged it in 1356, but it was rebuilt and restored. Inside, there is a memorial to Erasmus.

Basel has many buildings designed by famous architects. These include the Beyeler Foundation and the Vitra complex. The city won the Wakker Prize for its architecture in 1996.

Main sights

Basel has many important places to see. These include churches like the Old Catholic Prediger Kirche and the Münster of Basel. You can also visit the City Hall and the Bank for International Settlements. The city has archaeological sites and museums too.

Theatre and music

Basel is a great place for music and theatre. The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, started in 1933, is a top center for medieval and baroque music. Theater Basel is famous for its German-language performances and opera. The city has orchestras like the Sinfonieorchester Basel and the Kamerorchester Basel.

Museums

Basel is well-known for its museums. They cover art, history, and science. The Kunstmuseum Basel, founded in 1661, is the oldest public art collection in the world. Other museums include the Fondation Beyeler, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Natural History Museum of Basel.

Events

Basel holds many important events each year. Art Basel, a big art fair, happens in June. The Basel Tattoo, a large military parade, draws many visitors. The city's carnival, called Basler Fasnacht, is a big celebration that starts early on a winter Monday and lasts three days.

Cuisine

Basel has special foods, like Basler Läckerli cookies and Mässmogge candies. Because Basel is close to France and Germany, its food is rich and varied. There are many different restaurants to choose from.

Zoo

Zoo Basel, started in 1874, is the oldest and one of the biggest zoos in Switzerland. It welcomes over 1.7 million visitors each year. The zoo is known for its breeding programs, including the first Indian rhinoceros birth in a zoo.

Sport

Basel has many sports teams and events. FC Basel is a successful football club. The city hosted some matches in the 2008 European Championships. There are also ice hockey, basketball, and tennis teams. Each October, the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament takes place. The annual Basel Rhine Swim lets people swim or float in the Rhine River.

Notable people

Basel has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known individuals from Basel include botanist Gaspard Bauhin, mathematician Jacob Bernoulli, physicist Daniel Bernoulli, writer Johann Peter Hebel, artist Arnold Böcklin, and tennis champion Roger Federer. Many more influential figures in science, art, literature, and sports were born or grew up in this city.

Picture gallery

Here are some pictures of important places in Basel. You can see the Rathaus, which is Basel's Town Hall, and the Protestant Cathedral. There is also the University of Basel, which was started in 1460. Other pictures show the Global seat of the Bank for International Settlements, Haus zum Kirschgarten, and people swimming in the Rhine. You can also see old townhouses and big houses from the early 1900s.