The cathedral seen from across the Rhine
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The cathedral seen from across the Rhine |
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On Monday, December 21, 2015, we took a morning flight from Nice to Basel. The purpose of the trip was to spend some time in town, explore the Christmas markets, and enjoy some Saint-Honoré cake, a favorite of ours. We dropped our carry-ons at the Hotel Spalentor and walked into town. On this first day, we explored the Christmas market on Barfüsserplatz before making our way to the Migros at Äschenvorstadt where we indulged in a slice of the above-mentioned Saint-Honoré. We then walked up to the cathedral and wandered around the Christmas market on Münsterplatz where we enjoyed some potato latkes with apple sauce. After a quick stroll across the Mittleri Brugg into lower Basel, we were back for a Bratwurst, veal sausage served the traditional way, that is on a paper plate with mustard and a slice of dark bread. We ended the day by walking back to our hotel.
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The Spalentor, one of three surviving city gates |
Looking through the Spalentor |
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Walking down the Spalenvorstadt |
The Spalenberg leads to the market and Town Hall |
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Christmas market on Barfüsserplatz |
Christmas market on Barfüsserplatz |
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The Spittelsprung fountain on the Freie Strasse |
Ascending the Münsterberg to the cathedral |
Inside the Basler Münster |
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Münsterplatz, Cathedral Square |
Christmas market on Münsterplatz |
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Christmas market on Münsterplatz |
Seasonal decorations |
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Nativity scene in an old Basel Fähri (ferry boat) |
Christmas market on Münsterplatz |
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The Mittleri Brugg (Middle Bridge) |
The Wettstein Bridge |
We enjoyed breakfast at the hotel, walked to Market Square, and boarded the number 8 tramway in the direction of Weil am Rhein. The line had recently been extended to go all the way into Germany, and we wanted to see what that was all about. The main attraction at our destination was a huge shopping center that appeared to be very popular with people from Switzerland, no doubt because of the very strong Swiss franc that makes purchases in euros attractive. We took the same tramway all the way back to its other end point, Neuweilerstrasse. We walked up to the the small pond and watched the birds for a while, then continued on foot to the Migros Center in Allschwil were we had a very light lunch. We did some shopping and took public transportation to bring our purchases (Läckerli, anyone?) to our hotel. Then we headed back out and took a number ten tramway to Arlesheim, a lovely village outside of Basel. After getting back, we strolled through town and ended the day by having a picnic dinner in our hotel room.
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On the number 8 tramway line to Weil am Rhein |
The Rhein Center shopping complex in Weil am Rhein |
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The Allschwil pond near the other end of the number 8 tramway line |
Along the Spalengraben |
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Peterskirche (Saint Peter's church) |
Backyard off the Petersgasse |
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Petersgasse |
The main railway station |
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The Domkirche (cathedral church) in Arlesheim |
The terrific Brändli chocolate, pastry, and coffee shop in Arlesheim |
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Taking a walk along the village brook |
Looking up at Birseck Castle |
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The Felsentor (Rock Gate) |
Walking back to the village along the Ermitagestrasse |
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Grazing horses by the village entrance |
A garden in the evening light |
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Back in Basel on the Freie Strasse |
The Christmas tree on Marktplatz (Market Square) |
On this day, we skipped the rather large buffet breakfast at the hotel and instead had coffee and buttercream Silserli at one of the many Sutter bakeries. From Market Square, we climbed the steps up to Martinskirchplatz on cathedral hill. There are many gorgeous old buildings up there that used to be private residences; these days, they have all been turned into government offices. We walked through the cloister of the cathedral and crossed the Wettstein Bridge into lower Basel. We strolled along the Rhine and returned to the main part of town by means of the Middle Bridge. After admiring Tinguely's Carnival Fountain and enjoying a cup of coffee at the Grand Café Huguenin (where Daniel's parents met in the 1940s!), we took one more look at Town Hall before picking up our bags at the hotel. We had lunch at the train station before boarding the bus to the EuroAirport. By 6 p.m. we were back home in Cannes
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Starting the day at Sutter with buttercream Silserli and cappuccino |
Marktplatz (Market Square) and the Rathaus (Town Hall) |
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Martinskirchplatz, the square by Saint Martin's church |
The Basel city archives |
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The Basel city archives |
The Blue House, home of the Justice Department |
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The Martinsgasse... |
...leads to the Augustinergasse. |
The entrance to the cathedral's cloister |
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The cloister |
Under the Wettstein bridge |
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The Rhine promenade on the right bank |
View on Saint Martin and the Mittleri Brugg (Middle Bridge) |
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The Fasnachtsbrunnen (carnival fountain)... |
...by Swiss artist Jean Tinguely. |
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The ideal meeting point in the heart of Basel... since 1936! |
Barfüsserplatz |
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Christmas tree in the town hall courtyard |
Doors leading to the Great Council stairway |
Looking out onto Market Square |
The photos on this page were taken on December 21, 22, and 23, 2015.
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