Itinerary followed during this Interrail throughout Germany, Denmark and Switzerland

Cologne - Koblenz - Copenhagen - Helsingor - Hillerod - Roskilde - Berlin - Potsdam - Rhine cruise - Freiburg - Strasbourg - Black Forest - Rhine Waterfalls - Schaffhausen - Stein am Rhein - Konstanz - Zurich - Basel - Interlaken - Luzern - Zermatt - Brig - Bern - Geneva - Heidelberg - Munich - Dachau - Fussen - Nuremberg - Rothenburg (ODT) - Wurzburg - Jungfrau and Lauterbrunnen - Brienz - Geneva

It is located 1 h. far from Freiburg by train.
Basel is perhaps one of the most unknown cities in Switzerland, and people use to prefer other spots. However it is the second town of the country and the economical heart together with Zurich. It is possible due to its chemical and pharmaceutical industry, such as the gigantic Novartis, and Basel keeps a high percentage of researchers among the citizens, one of the highest world-wide. If you add the proximity of France and Germany, you understand that this city is very cosmopolite, and the citizens speak several languages and come from diverse nationalities.

The town started to exploit the possibilities that offered the Rhine around year 1000, and after the establishment of a permanent fix bridge in 1245, Basel became a crossroad for the European trade, thus experiencing an incredible progression. During the 14th century two plagues and a terrible earthquake restrained it. The city was reconstructed and they reached again the prosperity.
From 1431 and 1449 it housed the Council of the Catholic Church, and the most important figures occupied the city. They pretended to discuss about many questions, such as the clergy reform and the fight against heresy, thus following the reform started at Konstanz. However, at the conclusion they only obtained a great schism with the designation of two popes again (see Konstanz). In 1449 one of them abdicated and everything came back to normality. All this commotion contributed to the benefit of the town.
In 1501 Basel entered the Helvetica Confederation. Later on the Reform arrived (1529) and afterwards the 30 Years War (1618-1648), that brought an economical height, since the city began to play with its neutrality. Everything ran nicely until the 19th century, when Basel turned its back on the exterior tendencies instead of being opened to new ideas.

The Rhine divides the old town, that is linked through a bridge that guaranteed the economical prosperity of the region for 600 years, the Middle Bridge . The views of the city from this point are fabulous. Basel could be divided in two parts, at both banks of the river: the small Basel and the big Basel. This division comes from the past, when no bridge existed. Once it was built the settlements at both sides joined quickly. The most interesting part is the Big Basel, so we began here.

We walked towards the Market Square , redesigned in the 19th century, and the magnificent and eye-catching city hall . It is an elegant building from the 16th century with an intense red colour. The tower dates from 1904.
The cathedral was erected between the 10th and 16th centuries. The consecration took place in 1019, in the presence of Henry II and Cunegunda, who were adopted as the protectors of the city by the natives.

They have their statues on the facade, near the Virgin Mary. You can notice the marks of the Reform in the decoration, with many sculptures aiming to advise the population. The interior is Romanesque and the exterior Gothic. It keeps the chapel with the tomb of Erasmus of Rotterdam, who died in 1536.
It is nice the cloister and to walk around the cathedral to see the Saint Galo portico or the panorama over the Rhine, the lake, the small Basel and the landscape.

Across the old town we highlight the Blue and the White houses , beautiful mansions from 1768 that some brothers who fabricated ribbons built. In these mansions many outstanding figures were accommodated, such as the Czar Alexander, Frederic William of Prussia or the Austrian emperor Jose II.
The liveliest square in Basel is the Barfusserplatz , where we find the Franciscan church, which is even bigger than the cathedral. It is Gothic, from 14th century and keeps the History museum .

In this museum the most interesting work is the Macabre Dance , made around 1440 on the cemetery walls after the plague epidemic. It was 57 m. long with 39 sculpted pairs of figures, formed by an alive and a death person of natural size. Nowadays we observe the restored fragments that by the way all of them correspond to the alive.

I would also recommend visiting the Tinguely's fountain and the Fine Arts museum. Tingely is the name of a Swiss well-known artist who converts the scrap into poetry. The fountain represents the useless efforts of the humans, and it is constituted by 9 mechanic devices made from residues that spit water while they move in so many ways that they create a quite odd and funny work.

If you like it, you may try the Fine Arts museum, the richest in Switzerland, which houses the most important cubism collection across Europe.
It is worth a walk towards the Spalen's gate , one of the symbols of the town. This three-tower gate was enlarged in the 15th century due to the fear towards the nearby wars.
Downstream there is the only fluvial harbour of Switzerland, where many ships leave until Antwerp, in Netherlands, along the Rhine. His spot is not in the city.

The small Basel is a district. You can wander across the streets with some medieval houses and from the 19th century as well (perhaps the most authentic street is Rheingasse), pubs and restaurants, and wonderful sightseeing of the big Basel. You could also have a look to the Spitz's cafe, the see of the three associations from the small Basel that probably date from 1225.

The town is internationally known because of its carnival. It is celebrated the first Monday after the Ash Wednesday. It is the only carnival in Protestant land. The town lives three frantic and magic days, something impressive that thousands of tourists don't want to miss.

Not only here but also in the whole country the big amount of militaries call your attention. Surprisingly in Switzerland the military service is compulsory and every year they have to go there for some weeks until they reach 42 years old. After the training they return home with the entire outfit. Nowadays it exists the conscientious objection for those who don't want to serve the army.
Therefore Basel is a pleasant and calm place, recommendable to make a stop. In my opinion one day should be enough.
You also should take into account that Switzerland is terribly expensive. If you travel with a tight budget I suggest buying everything at the supermarkets or eating at fast foods. The accommodation is expensive as well, but this problem disappears if you sleep out of the man towns.
Among all the Swiss towns, Basel is situated among the most expensive, since here many businessmen sleep and there are many fairs and expositions. We were accommodated in Freiburg.