The Swiss city of Basel is characterized by mixing it between the features of stark modernity and history, as the skyscrapers are identical to the edifices of classic and contemporary art. The importance of Basel is not limited to being an industrial city, but rather bypassing this to represent a life and cultural capital that is vibrant and surprised by tourists with its various museums and innovative exhibitions.
“Gjili Hala” hall
The tourist tour starts from the “Gosy Hala” hall, which is called the residents of Basel, “St. Jacobs Hala”, and this hall is characterized by many open concrete structures, clear lines and a circular ceiling in the green spaces located on the southeastern edge of the city of Basel, and this building is a prominent example of the style of “architectural brutality” in Switzerland during the seventies of the century Last.
Basel is also the architectural capital of Switzerland; Where the city is proud of the work of 13 engineers from the prestigious “Pretzker” prize, and these works are spread in the city and in the surrounding area, and the Swiss city also provides art and culture lovers a large group of different museums, which of course includes the Swiss Architecture Museum.
The highest building in Switzerland
Even the highest building in Switzerland is not found in Zurich or the Federal Capital Bern, but rather in the city of Basel on the River River, which is a “Roche 2” tower, and this double tower was built in 2022 for the International Pharmaceutical Company, and its height reaches 205 meters, and replaced the Roche I, as the record holder 3 years ago for the highest buildings in Switzerland.
This tower designed the famous “Herzog & de Moron” architectural office, and is located a few meters of corniche over the banks of the River, and near the old workers ’neighborhoods directly.
Industry, art and architecture are closely related to Basel, and this city is the third largest city in Switzerland after Zurich and Geneva, and is inhabited by more than 200 thousand people and hails from about 170 different countries. The Tinguili Museum, designed by the Swiss architect Mario Bouta, is located next to the headquarters of the giant pharmaceutical company “Roche”, which also manages the museum.
This museum bears the name of the Swiss artist “Jean Tinguili”, who is from the city of Basel, who is famous for creating huge mechanisms of scrap that has no purpose at all, and this museum is certainly worth a visit.
The competition between Roche and Nuvarts companies is not limited to the field of medicines, but the headquarters of Novartis is also located in the city of Basel, and it is famous for its wonderful offices and laboratories, and besides the architectural design office “Herzog & de Moron” there is in the city of Basel many other brilliant names such as “Frank Jerry”, “Richard Serra” and “SANA” as well as the design office “Diner & Dinner”.
The industry has contributed to the formation of the image of the city of Basel, which is still somewhat neglected, and the city has a long history as a center for textiles, dyes and chemicals, and these industries are still present today, and the city’s mental image is still linked to gray rapid roads and factories, which leads many tourists to continue their journey to the south to reach Italy.
River Rhine is clean and safe to swim
River water has become so clean, so much that it can swim without any concern. “Yves Parat” indicated that the water quality is examined regularly during the swimming season in 3 different locations, and the chemist in the health administration in the Basel Shatta Canton, saying, “The measurements indicate that it is possible to shower in the waters of the Rhine without any concern when the water is clear.”
There are many swimming sites, one of which is located next to the “Tingoili” museum and rhinestones, and tourists can borrow waterproof bags, known as “Fixelfish” for free from the Tourist Information Office in “Parvoser Platz” when you want to drift with the river stream.
Middle Ages atmosphere
Tourists are surprised when visiting the city center for the first time, the charming medieval atmosphere around the market square and the Parroser Platz Square, and the Basel government and its parliament meet in the unique municipal building in red, which attracts attention with its external paintings.
From the balcony of “Falas” in the nearby cathedral, tourists enjoy a wonderful view of the minor city of Basel or “Klein Basel” located on the right bank of the Rhine River, where the river turns east towards Lake “Constance”.
The Historic Basel Museum is also located on the cathedral hill in the “Parfoser” church, and this museum highlights the identity of the city from the cultural perspective, and the city is located at the meeting point of Switzerland, Germany and France.
The wonderful arts museum is located a few minutes on foot, and this museum consists of an old building and another new building linked under the ground, and this museum has cost 100 million Swiss francs, and this museum displays international artists’ paintings such as “Holpine”, “Rambrant” and “Bronnis”, and passing through the pioneers of modernity such as “Jogan”, “Van Gogh” and “Picasso” Pop Art artists such as “Roy Lesteinstein” and “Andy Warhol”, and these works are usually displayed with the support of pharmaceutical companies and banks.
Industrial romance
Basel is also a destination for “industrial romance” fans, where they can go to the “Dry Spitz” area located on the outskirts of the city, which was previously a free customs warehouse for industrial products in Basel.
But today it includes a variety of studios, universities, architectural design offices and museums in the buildings of old factories and abandoned railway paths, including for example, “Electronic Arts House”, which is concerned with the forms of social impact of new media and digital arts, and the “Constagus Basel Land” museum of contemporary art has been opened in 2024, and this often misses this The tourist attractions are visitors, who quickly pass the Basel side on highways.
