Culture of Basel. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Basel Cathedral is known as the main object of tourist excursions. During hundreds of years the cathedral remains the undisputed symbol of the city. Its construction took place in the middle of the 12th century. In 1356 the cathedral was damaged badly by the earthquake and it was partially destroyed. The high and beautiful building was fully restored within the short period of time. Nowadays the Cathedral looks as flawless and impressive, as it was in the medieval period. The Spalentor (Spalen Gate) is a no less beautiful architectural monument of the city. The gates were built in the 14th century. On each side of the central arch of the gate are located two ancient towers. Originally the construction was a part of a large fortification facility and it divided the territory of the ancient city from its defensive line.

Fasnacht Brunnen fountain is another prominent architectural landmark of the city. The appearance of the fountain is associated with a truly interesting story. Several centuries ago the main city theater was located on the site of the modern fountain. However, the theater was completely destroyed by fire. One of the local residents decided to use the theatre decorations, which had survived after the fire, as the main building material for the construction of the fountain. Today you can see a beautiful sculptural composition next to the fountain. The sculpture looks truly stunning surrounded by bright jets of water. Basel is home to a huge number of museums and galleries. Many cultural institutions are the location of very original and unexpected exhibitions.

You should definitely visit Museum of Paper, which was opened in an old mill. During the excursion in the museum guests will hear many interesting facts about the development of paper industry. Old typographic equipment occupies a large part of the collection represented in the museum. Moreover, everybody can try to print several pages on a machine, which age is several hundred years. Jean Tinguely Museum is another place that is definitely worth visiting when you come to Basel. This talented sculptor is also the author of the famous Fasnacht Brunnen fountain. Besides wonderful priceless sculptures the museum stores numerous antique catalogs, posters and documents, as well as several paintings made by Jean Tinguely himself - in addition to sculpture he has been interested in painting. In addition to the main and permanent exhibition, the museum frequently shows off the works of modern painters and sculptors. Various exhibitions and presentations take place here literally every month. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A walk along Altstadt will bring only one pleasure since key attractions are concentrated here, at least those of a historical nature. Immersed in greenery and flowers, narrow cobbled streets, ancient houses with flowers on the windowsills, as well as fountains, all brings romance to the beautiful city. The most important squares located in Altstadt are Müensterplatz and Marktplatz. On the former is situated the already mentioned Münster (Cathedral). You can also find here, the Basler Marionetten Theater and the Pfalz, a viewing platform behind the cathedral. Everything you need for a culturally relaxing holiday is in place here – benches and trees.

Marktplatz is perhaps the liveliest area of ​​the city, where shops, restaurants and cafes are situated. Generally, it is worth starting the exploration of the city by visiting Spalentor and St. Alban Tor, towers reminiscent of the Basel fortress. Both structures were built in the 13th century as a protective wall surrounding the city. However, those times have sunk into oblivion, and only the gate remains of the fortress wall. The walls themselves were destroyed in the 19th century, as they were believed to be preventing the city from developing industrially. A remarkable feature of the gate is its interestingly decorated facades.

If someone advises you to visit the Wolf-Gottesacker cemetery, do not take this as a threat or a joke. The fact is that it is very beautiful here, and an atmosphere of calm reigns within the territory. Each tombstone is beautiful in its own way, and they can be viewed, it seems, for eternity. Another mystical place can be found in the Cathedral – we are talking about the crypt and cloister of the Carolingians. The cloister was built in the 15th century. You can find here the names of many prominent residents of Basel, the grave of Erasmus Rotterdam and Jacob Bernoulli. It is in the crypt that representatives of the Carolingian dynasty were buried long ago, hence its name.

The city is full of ultra-modern buildings. First of all, you should note the Novartis Campus. You can get inside only by coming to an understanding about the visit in advance. However the building itself is striking for the most part as a result of its beautiful architecture – so you can enjoy only the exterior. You will also find it interesting to visit Rathaus – it stands out amid the rest on Marktplatz with its red color. The building was constructed in the beginning of the 16th century, in the late Gothic style. Do well to pay a visit to the inner courtyard of the town hall, which is in itself a work of art.