Basel
It functions as a major industrial centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical sector, located in north-west Switzerland on the river Rhine. The city borders on both Germany and France. The Basel region, culturally extending into German Baden and French Alsace, reflects the heritage of its three states in the modern Latin name: "Regio TriRhena"). It has an old university.
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2 Industry and Trade 3 History and science 4 Architecture 5 Education 6 Politics 7 Famous Basel People 8 Sport 9 Culture |
Communications
Basel has Switzerland's only cargo port, through which goods pass along the navigable stretches of the Rhine.
Basel has long held an important place as a railway node. Three passenger-oriented railway stations: those of the German, French and Swiss networks, lie within the city. A goods railway complex exists as well.
The Swiss chemical industry operates largely from Basel: this grew into the modern focus of the city's manufacturing: pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. Firms like Novartis (the Merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz), Ciba Specialty Chemicals ("Ciba") and Hoffmann-La Roche have headquarters in Kleinbasel. Major innovative products stemming from the Basel area include DDT, Araldite and LSD.
Banking has long held importance for Basel: major Swiss banks have their headquarters in the city, and the Bank for International Settlements found a home here from 1930.
Basel became the focal point of western Christendom during the 15th-century Council of Basel.
See also: pharmacopoeia
The largest indoor tennis event in Europe occurs in Basel every October. The best ATP-Professionals play every year at the "Davidoff Swiss Indoors".
In 2002, the World Judo Championships took place in Basel.
Basel features a large soccer stadium, a modern ice hockey hall and an admitted sports hall.
Industry and Trade
An annual Federal Swiss trade fair (Mustermesse) takes place in Kleinbasel on the right bank of the Rhine. Other important Fairs include "Basel" (Watches), Art, Orbit or Cultura.History and science
Basel traces its history back to at least the days of the Roman empire settlement of Augusta Raurica. The city's position on the Rhine long emphasised its importance: Basel for many centuries possessed the only bridge over the river "between Lake Constance and the sea". In 1356 an earthqauke caused extensive damage in the city.Architecture
The Romanesque Minster, with its two (uneven) towers forms an architectural monument which survived mediaeval earthquake. The tomb of Erasmus lies inside the Minster.Education
Basel hosts Switzerland's oldest university, dating from 1459. Erasmus, Paracelsus, Daniel Bernoulli, Leonhard Euler and Friedrich Nietzsche worked here. More recently, work in tropical medicine has gained prominence.Politics
Geo-politically, the city of Basel functions as the capital of the Swiss half-canton of Basel-Stadt, though several of its suburbs form part of the half-canton of Basel-Landschaft or of the canton of Aargau.Famous Basel People
Sport
Basel has a reputation in Switzerland as a successful city sport. The soccer club FC Basel continues to score many successes.
The European Soccer Championships 2008 will take place in Basel as soon as in Geneva, ZÃÂürich and Bern. The Championships will be in Switzerland and Austria.Culture
Basel has a reputation as one of the most important cultural cities in Europe. In 1997, it contended to become the "European Capital of Culture". In May 2004, the fifth EJCF choir festival will open: this Basel tradition started in 1992.