Basel

Decided to take a short trip to Basel (巴塞尔) after the trip from Czech Republic on 20 Jun (Sun). The word Basel or Basle is in German, while Bâle is in French, and Basilea in Italian and Romansh.

Basel is located where Swiss, French and German borders meet and it is Switzerland's third most-populous city after Zürich and Genèva. It's easy to visit Basel as most attractions are within walking distances from the railway station.

Basel railway station

To reach Basel SBB railway station (left photo below) from the airport (or vice versa), passengers just need to board bus no. 50 which took about 10-mins. The station is situated at the southern side of the city centre (right photo below). Station building is aligned to the centre line of the Centralbahnplatz, and features a huge glazed tudor arch window between two clock towers under curved domes.

Basel Minster

Basel Minster or Basler Münster in German is a religious building and one of main landmarks in Basel. Built between 1019 and 1500, the building adds definition to the cityscape with two slim towers and the cross-shaped intersection of the main roof (left photo below) together with red sandstone architecture and colorful patterned roof tiles (right photo below).

Do spend time to admire the exquisite decoration of the gates. The sulptures on the main portal include figures of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife Kuntigunde, patron saints of Basel (left photo below). The Galluspforte is a magnificient Romanesque portal, on the north facade of the transept of the Minster, was built in around 1185. The carvings depict judgement day and works or mercy (right photo below).

The area that surrounds this courtyard carries many plaques, could be those who donated or during restoration of the Minster (left photo below). Its corridor and inner courtyard are equally impressive (right photo below).

Interior view of the pulpit and main altar in the Basel Cathedral are also remarkable (photos below).

Stained glass windows depicting the Nativity, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ (photos below).

Middle Bridge

The Middle Bridge or Mittlere Rheinbrücke in German, or Pont du Milieu in French is a historic bridge in Basel spanning across the Rhine (left photo below). The bridge is 192-meters long and 18.8 meters wide and is built out of granite. The Amazon sculpture (right photo below), depicts a striding Amazon leading a horse, can be found by the Old Town Bridgehead.

Wettstein Bridge

The Wettstein Bridge or Wettsteinbrücke in German (left photo below) is the second oldest Rhine bridge in Basel. The bridge span over 371-meters and able to handle traffic.

Reaction or Cable ferry

A reaction ferry is a cable ferry that uses the reaction of the current of a river against a fixed steel cable to propel the vessel across the water (right photo below). No motors or human intervention needed. These ferries operate faster and more effectively in rivers with strong currents.

Marktplatz

The market square (left photo below) is dominated by the impressive 500-year old Town Hall or Rathaus Basel in German (right photo below). The Town Hall houses the seat of government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. During the week, the market on the square sells fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers. The façade of Town Hall was undergoing renovation during my visit.

Natural History Museum Basel

The Natural History Museum Basel or Naturhistorisches Museum Basel in German is a natural history museum in Basel that houses wide-ranging collections focused on the fields of zoology, entomology, mineralogy, anthropology, osteology and paleontology. It has an impressive collection of over 7.7 million objects.

Basel Historical Museum – Barfüsserkirche

The Basel Historical Museum (left photo below) is divided into three sections (buildings), of which all three are within the city of Basel. These are Barfüsserkirche, Haus zum Kirschgarten and the Musikmuseum. The main part of the museum is located in the Barfüsserkirche where it houses the Upper Rhine's most comprehensive cultural history collection and the display area covers 6,200 square meters.

Kunstmuseum Basel

The Kunstmuseum Basel (right photo below) houses the largest and most significant public art collection in Switzerland. It is municipally owned and therefore first museum to open to the public in the world back in 1661. Its collection is distinguished by an impressively wide historic span, from the early 15th century up to the immediate present.

Tinguely Fountain

Swiss artist Jean Tinguely is famous for his moving objects and nonsense machines. This Tinguely fountain (left photo below) stood in front of Theater Basel or Stadttheater in German (right photo below) since 1977 consists of a series of individually moving water-pipes in a shallow fountain. These nine iron eminences are in constant motion and seems to "talk" to each other just as did the mimers, actors and dancers who once performed at this very spot.

Dollhouse Museum

The Dollhouse Museum or Puppenhausmuseum in German (photos below) is the largest museum of its kind in Europe. Now known as the Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel (Toy Worlds Museum Basel). The museum displays over 6,000 exhibits (teddy bears, dolls, play shops, dollhouses and miniatures) arranged in themes. In particular, the teddy bear collection is world unique in terms of variety and quality.

There is a boutique that offers a range of unique and joy-bringing gifts (photos below). Admission cost CHF 7 and opening hours from 1000 to 1800 hours, with some exceptions throughout the year.

After exploring the city for about 2 hours, I then took train from Basel railway station back to Neuchâtel.