Before leaving the ship's docking area, walk down to see the Dreilanderek, where Switzerland, Germany and France meet on the Rhine.
We took an Uber to Hotel D, our home for the next 2 nights. Just down the street is Les Trois Rois, one of the oldest hotels in Europe. It was founded in 1681 and rebuilt in 1844. Today, it is a 5-star hotel with views of the Rhine.
It was a short walk to the Mittlere Brucke (Middle Bridge), an iconic old bridge in Basel. It was open in 1226. You can download the Basel City Guide App and follow several tours that will tell you the history of most sites.
Near the bridge is a fountain of a little boy holding a fish. I couldn't find the story behind this fountain.
The Amazon sculpture by Carl Burckhardt can also be found at the Middle Bridge. It shows a woman leading a horse. The artist died before the completion of the sculpture. There are trowl marks left over from the plaster cast which the artist would likely have removed if he had been able to complete it. There would also likely have been a rein.
Martin's Church--the oldest church in Basel.
Nearby, the Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt houses the state archives.
A 16th century warrior fountain stands in front.
The Market Square has a morning market selling fruit, vegetables and flowers.
The Rathaus or Town Hall sits nearby. It was built in the early 1500s and is impressively red. Walk inside and take a look.
On the facade is a clock with the imperial couple Heinrich II and Kunigunde. Justitia stands in the center.
In the back of the building is a sculpture of the standard bearer of the city of Basel. He holds a sword and the city flag. The same sculpture can be found above the clock.
We then followed the Earasmus tour, starting with a copy of the Lallekonig found on Eisengasse and Schifflande. The mask used to be found on the Rhine Gate. When the Rhine Gate was destroyed, the original Lallekonig was moved to the Museum of History. Look for its tongue to stick out intermittently.
The tours are numbered and color coordinated.
On Rheinsprung, you can find craftsmen's guilds with elaborate designs. This was the Wine Peoples Guild.
The Key Guild is now a restaurant.
The Key decoration remains.
Look for a chain that was used in the Middle Ages to prevent revolts. It contains citizens in their neighborhoods.
Minster Square
The Basel Minster was originally a Catholic cathedral, built between 1019 and 1500 in Romanesque and Gothic styles. Today, it is a Reformed Protestant church.
On the facade is St. George slaying the dragon.
The main aisle of the Minster.
The Galluspforte is one of the oldest entrances to the Minster.
Behind the Minster, you get a nice view of the Rhine. You can find people floating with their Wickelfische.
You can also find ferries crossing the Rhine. The boatman tacks against the current, tethered by a rope. The public ferries are covered by the Basel card. Beware, there are some private ferries. These do not accept the Basel card but the crossing is only CHF2. The crossing just takes a few minutes.
The Cloister near the Minster.
Murus Gallicus or Celtic rampart.
Follow the Rittergasse or Knight Alley. This is the Registry Office, where people can get married.
The Kunstmuseum Basel contains an impressive collection of art. Separate post later.
The Zschokke Fountain features 3 figures--a playful young boy playing a flute.
The young adult man and the wise old man (seated) complete the 3 figures in the Zschokke Fountain.
The St. Alban neighborhood used to be outside the town border. This was where the high society lived.
St. Albans Church
St. Alban-Kirschrain 12 with a painting of St. Alban on the facade. It shows a decapitated St. Alban.
The Swiss Paper Mill Museum.
The waterwheel attached to the museum.
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