Saint Martin’s church is the oldest in Basel and second only to the Münster, or cathedral. Saint Martin’s was first mentioned around the year 1100, and the lower part of the steeple and portions of the façade go back to the year 1287. Following the big earthquake of 1356, the church had to be almost entirely rebuilt. It became Protestant in 1529, and today, it is used mainly for concerts (in fact, yours truly sang at Saint Martin’s in the mid-sixties). Traditionally, the bell of Saint Martin’s rings in the annual autumn fair with its countless attractions, and on each, the first ride following the bell is free. Needless to say, at noon of the day the fair starts, there’s a hush as kids of all ages wait for the bell. And with this, we wrap up our mini-series on the Basel-Mulhouse area.