Basel Travel Guide Switzerland: Historical Information for Tourism

Basel Travel Guide Switzerland. Historical Information for Tourism. A small city best known for its spectacular springtime carnival, the Basler Fasnacht, which has grown to be one of the biggest crowd-pullers in the whole of Switzerland, Basel is perhaps best visited during the gorgeous summer months. At this time of the year, Basel enjoys some of the country's sunniest weather, in spite of its somewhat northerly situation. There are plenty of excellent ways to cool off in the summer and numerous visitors to Basel choose to relax onboard a boat trip along the River Rhine (Rhein), enjoying the views and the gentle breezes. Trade fairs have long been a major draw card in Basel and many take place in the latter part of the year, attracting crowds of thousands. Basel enjoys a rather unusual setting, being extremely close to both the borders of France and Germany. For the latest in tourism advice for all these regions, and the city's main districts of Vieille Ville (Old Town), Grossbasel and Kleinbasel, pay a visit to the Basel Tourist Information centres at either the Schifflände or the SBB Bahnhof (train centre). When visiting the tourist offices, try to pick up your copy of the 'Experiencing Basel' booklet. This clearly details a number of walks around the town centre, all of which start from the Market Square (Marktplatz), next to the rather eye-catching bright-red Town Hall (Rathaus). Tourists will find plenty to keep them occupied during their Swiss holiday, with a family favourite being Basel Zoo, a historic zoo dating back to the 1870s and home to many exotic animals from Africa. Native wildlife can be enjoyed at the Tierpark Langen Erlen, and horticulture at the Botanical Gardens (Botanischer Garten Brüglingen), while various concerts regularly are held at the Stadtcasino Basel, Scala Theatre and at the St. Jakob Arena, which is located within St. Jakob's Park and can accommodate audiences of more than 6,000 spectators, also hosting regular ice hockey matches. Read more