June 19 Basel
June 19, 2023
Last updated on September 6th, 2023 at 03:43 pm
Photos from Basel
Video Summary of the Day
Our luggage had to be outside our room by 6:30 am for pick up to be transported to the boat. There was quite a line for breakfast, with most seats occupied. The hostess and wait staff were working hard, cleaning tables as fast as people left and seating the next in line. Once we were seated, we noticed the kitchen was having difficulty keeping up as there weren’t many of the buffet items available. We managed to find enough to eat! There was an all day optional tour leaving at 7:45 am, so we imagine we all came down for breakfast at once.
At 8:00 am, Alan identified our luggage so it and us could travel on the same bus. We boarded the bus and we were on our way. We had an entertaining guide who shared many interesting facts and personal stories. The trip from Zurich to Basel is approximately one hour. We stopped once for a toilet break. Use of the facilities costs 1 Swiss franc, which Viking provided. The ticket received when putting in your franc could be redeemed for .50 franc off a purchase in the store…A bargain we Welch’s can’t resist! We purchased some Lindt chocolate, dark of course!
Back on the bus, we arrived in Basel in about 15 minutes. Our local guide from Basel joined our bus and we took about an hour bus tour of Basel. Basel is located very near France, Germany and Italy. By train, one can travel to Paris in about 3 1/2 hours and Milan in a little over 4. The guide pointed out some of the tall, modern buildings as we drove into the city.
Basel is on both sides of the Rhine River, one side referred to as Little Basel, which was settled outside the medieval walls after they were taken down on the 1800’s. The other side contains the Old Town or medieval city. We drove by Spalentor which formed part of the defensive walls that once encircled Basel. The tower consists of a pair of crenellated turrets framing a square central section, which has a pointed roof laid with glazed red, black and white tiles. The gate, which has wooden doors and a portcullis, is embellished with sculptures and on its west side it bears the arms of the city.
Basel is known for industry, particularly chemical and pharmaceutical, with Roche and Novotel having labs and administrative offices in the city, with Roche having built the tallest building the city. We saw the building where the restructuring and reparations following World War were administered. Basel also has many architecturally significant buildings, 43 museums and a thriving artistic community.
After the bus tour, we begin the walking portion of the tour in the older part of town. Joyce’s knees, back & feet were sore from yesterday’s walking so she opted for the “gently walking” tour, which included fewer stairs.
We began by walking through part of the shopping district a couple ladies seemed more interested in shopping than seeing the sights.
There was a mix of old and new construction, expansive city squares, cobblestones, and of course, there were plenty of city fountains. In particular, the Dreizack-Brunnen “Spittelsprung-Brunnen”, built in the early 1800’s, was charming, flower-laden, and flowing freely. The middle name “Spittelsprung-Brunnen” comes from the 13th century, because a hospital was housed at the former Spittelsprung (today Münsterberg). The trough has the shape of a square. Four water-spitting basilisks are attached to the pillar. At the top of the column, three dolphins are holding a trident.
We continued to the Basel Minster, set on a hill above the Rhine, a Gothic-style, Protestant place of worship, with 9th-century origins, twin spires & a tiled roof.. This monumental cathedral is a conspicuous and majestic presence in the city. With dark red sandstone walls and patterned roof tiles, it is a vivid monument to Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
In the plaza in front of the church were remnants from an art fair that had taken place earlier in the month. In particular, there were nearly a dozen figures made of straw. People were enjoying posing with the different straw men, and kids could be seen running between the legs of some of them.
We continued through the cloister, learning all Catholic icons and statues were taken out of the church and burned during the Reformation.
Beyond the cloister is the Vischer’scher Garden with beautiful mature chestnut trees, overlooking the Rhine River. From the garden we had an excellent view of the city, including the oldest bridge and a ferry attached to a wire that is pulled across the river using the river’s current as power. Alan’s guide showed pictures of the river full of swimmers for an event in the summer. The lazy current of the river attracts many people to float for several kilometers, especially on warm summer days.
Alan’s group continued on to the main city square, Markplatz, passing even more fountains, including small fountains in front of the main fountains so dogs can drink. The square was crowded with booths, carnival rides, and people. The main attraction was the Basel City Hall, Basler Rathaus. The 500-year old dark red sandstone building adorned with paintings. The building has been added on to in the centuries that followed, and includes a majestic clock tower.
Apparently, grocery ads are somewhat different in Basel. In Lafayette, they are going to online only. Maybe we’ll start seeing bread and oranges advertised like this before long.
The ‘gentle walking group’ continued to the other side of the Munster to the large square with a few straw sculptures, left from a recent art festival to a fountain with a dragon on top. We then walked back down to the Barefoot square outside the Barefoot Church, founded by barefoot monks, who helped those in need.
In the meantime, Alan’s group ventured through some small back streets, saw the ‘Monkey’ fountain, and learned about Mardi Gras in Basel, complete with giant, lighted heads and lots of color and music. We passed a large mural containing many rock icons in one of the small streets; just another indication of the large art community here. We also learned about a special gingerbread that is popular here.
We now had an hour of free time. Joyce and Alan were reunited and sat in the square briefly, before finding a store to spend our remaining Swiss francs, as we will be in France tomorrow and will need to start using the Euro. We settled on more Lindt dark chocolate, (can you ever have too much dark chocolate?) a big, fresh pretzel, some pastry, and a Magnum dark chocolate ice cream bar.
We headed back to the area we were to meet the buses by way of Tinguely Park and it’s famous mechanical fountain where we enjoyed our ice cream bar and pretzel. Tinguely fountain consists of amusing machine sculptures in an enormous pool of shallow water, spouting, shooting and spraying water.
We boarded the buses and headed for the port where the Viking Hild was docked. Our bags had already been delivered to our stateroom. Embarkation was as simple as giving our name, showing one of our passports and being shown to our stateroom. We started unpacking, then realized our Embarkation lunch was ending in 5 minutes.
Once in the main dining room, we served ourselves at the buffet and joined four other guests at a table of 6. We met Ron & Dorothy from South Dakota and ukele-playing sisters Vicki & Lynn from southern California. We enjoyed our lunch with them.
After lunch it was back to our stateroom to get organized. We always appreciate all the storage available in these small rooms. We blogged and organized pictures, then took a cookie break; Alan fondly remembered the chocolate cookies from our river cruise in 2019.
After a short nap and watching the safety video on the TV, it was time to head to the lounge for the introduction of the managers of each area – the captain and his mates, the engineer, head of the hotel, head chef and our program director. The ship’s leaders seemed especially friendly and funny. Then a welcome toast, safety talk, ship orientation talk and finally the port talk, giving us information about Strasbourg, which we visit tomorrow.
We ate dinner with Lynn from Williamsburg, Va and her granddaughter, Hannah from Asheville, NC, and Jackie and her mother, Krista from southern CA. We have enjoyed meeting all these people, learning a little about their lives and finding things we have in common.
After dinner, Joyce sat on the veranda and enjoyed the breeze and the gentle sound of the ship gliding through the water until someone close by made several loud phone calls. Time to relax and head for bed.
Zürich & Basel, Switzerland
Transfer to Basel this morning, a fascinating blend of modern and traditional with a thriving arts scene. Get acquainted with its Market Square of guild houses and Gothic, Renaissance and baroque splendor.
Located on the Rhine River near the borders of France and Germany, Basel contains the country’s highest concentration of museums. The culture-centric city, site of the world’s most influential art market each June, is also home to the lovely Munster Cathedral, made of red sandstone with a multi-colored tile roof. Green spaces abound, including the popular zoological gardens in the city center. Switzerland’s largest site of Roman ruins, Augusta Raurica, are an easy day trip to the east.
Then embark your ship in time for dinner.
Basel Highlights
A CULTURAL CAPITAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF THREE COUNTRIES
Explore this cultural city where three nations converge—Switzerland, France and Germany—by foot and by motor coach. Basel’s Old Town is an inviting cluster of medieval buildings spread on a hilly riverbank. During a walking tour, visit the Marktplatz, or Market Square, surrounded by guild halls of late Gothic, Renaissance and baroque styles. Admire the ornate spires of the Rathaus, or Town Hall, and the thin towers of the 13th-century Romanesque Münster, or Cathedral. Its unusually red sandstone was quarried from the nearby Vosges Mountains in neighboring France. Behind the cathedral, a traditional cable ferry uses the river’s current to carry passengers back and forth. The city’s open air market runs daily here, except Sundays, and is stocked with all kinds of vegetables, fruits and flowers from the surrounding countryside. You might find a favored local treat, Basler Läckerli cookies.
