Originally a Catholic Church in 1019 AD, the Ptarrant Munster has since the 1500's been a Reformed…read moreProtestant Church The earthquake of 1358 wrecked havoc on the red sandstone construction but reconstruction efforts were successful. The church has elements of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture and is considered a heritage site of significance. The two towers of the church standout on the cities horizon . One tower is dedicated to St. George (1372), he is slaying a dragon, albeit small. the other tower is dedicated to St. Martin (1340), who is displayed riding a horse. Entrance to the church is free. however if you wish to climb the 242 steps to the top of each tower it is 4CHF. The staircase is narrow and not always lit adequately. At the top there is a viewing platform. It is an excellent view of the city, Mittlere Brucke and Rhine river. Take note of the statue of Henry the II at the main entrance. There is a crypt which holds the tomb of Gertrude of Hohenburg, who died in 1281 in Vienna. Also in the crypt is the Tomb of Erasmus of Rotterdam. The attached cloister is worth exploring, as is, the Kreuzgang which leads to the Hall of Shields.

A must see, beautiful at night especially at Christmas time. This is in walking distance if you're…read morein the old town area

One of the three remaining city gates, the Gate of Spalen dates back to 1400. There was a time that…read moreBasel was surrounded by walls but most of them are gone. This memorializes those times. Through this gate, a great deal of vital supplies and provisions that had come from Alsace entered the city. You can still see square main tower which is flanked by two circular towers on either side. The figures of the Madonna and two prophets decorate the façade that faces away from the city. Access is free and you can walk right through the gate today. [Review 21216 overall - 66 in Switzerland - 181 of 2024.]

The Spalentor was one of the first things we saw in Basel and it was definitely one of the most…read morememorable. It's a beautiful city gate that stands in the middle of a bustling intersection. It's mind-boggling to think how many centuries old this structure is. It used to help surround the city with walls, but those have long since been removed. The green roof is decorated with an interesting pattern and it looks similar to the ones I saw at Basel Minster. You can walk around and through this structure at all times of the day so definitely come back for some great night pictures as well. There are lots of intricate details to study and appreciate if you take the time to look.

There is plenty to see at the Tinguely Fountain. Jean Tinguely (1925-1991) was the master of…read morekinetic sculptures. Machinelike structures that move and spin and make noise and eventually, fail. For now, though, this fountain endures. "The Fasnachtsbrunnen was built between 1975 and 1977. It stands on the site of the stage of Basel's old city theatre, which was demolished in 1975 and replaced by today's theatre complex designed by the architects Schwarz & Gutmann." It's not hard to spent an hour here if you wish to appreciate each of the dozen or so moving sculptures as they rise and lower, spin and turn, spit water and go silent. It's an impressive display. A caption nearby points out a description of each piece in German, French and English. [Review 21223 overall - 72 in Switzerland - 188 of 2024.]

Without a doubt the strangest fountain I have ever seen. The Tinguely Fountain was on a list of…read moreinteresting things to see in Basel so we gave it a shot. It's not something you have to pay admission for. You just walk up and look at it and wonder what the heck is going on. The works of art were designed by an artist named Jean Tinguely and I was surprised to learn learn that this was done in the 70's. The works of art in the fountain are really strange looking "perpetual motion" machines. Some look like something you would recognize, such as a mechanical torso that appears to be endlessly running, while others are just completely bizarre contraptions that spit out water in several directions. The fountain is easily accessible via public transport and it intrigued us enough to go visit the Tinguely Museum (which is not close to here).

Lovely place to visit. They also hold lots of events and showcases here, especially around…read moreChristmas time (one of the best Christmas markets in the area). Great restaurants in the area too and an amazing lookout point of the Rhine.

Around since the 1500s, this is a must see site while visiting Basel. Not only is the cathedral…read moreextremely beautiful and has many sites to see but it's also centrally located right by the Rhine River and is surrounded by other famous landmarks and must visit sites. Entering the cathedral is free, but if you want to go up to the tower, which we did and I highly recommend doing, you pay 4 CHF, which is worth it. At the top there are great views of the city and you can really get a true appreciation of how well built the cathedral is. I especially like the pattern on the roof and how it almost contrasts with the Gothic style, but works amazingly well in the end. There are a lot of great photo opportunities here as well as some very interesting history to learn. I highly recommend for any visitor or local.

In addition to being a lovely medieval gate, has beautiful vantage points of the city and the…read moreRhine. It's free so there's no excuse for every single tourist to not make the (probably) short trip over.

One of the few remaining old gates that dates back to as early as 1230, this was part of the…read morefortifications of the old city. It still has the large wooden door and paling. Heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1356 and then rebuilt in 1362 and 1374. The neighborhood around here still has the feel of the medieval design (or lack of design) with narrow winding streets and historic buildings. The gate is free to access and walk through. [Review 21213 overall - 63 in Switzerland - 178 of 2024.]

It's so subtle you can almost miss it as you walk by. Surrounded by a nondescript park near one of…read morethe busier streets it has so much character and modesty. Walk through and keep heading along the river for some of the more residential urban dwellings.