Switzerland » Introduction of Basel

Basel is the third-largest city in Switzerland; it stands on the Rhine (river in Europe) at the point where the French, German, and Swiss borders meet. At the entrance to the Swiss Rhineland, Basel is the capital of the half-canton (Swiss state) of Basel-Stadt. On its borders are the French Vosges, the German Black Forest, and the Swiss Jura Mountains.

Today the cultural traditions of Basel live on in its many museums (almost 27), art galleries, and schools. The city has become known as an international marketplace for art and antiquities. In 1967 its citizens voted by referendum to purchase two well-known works by Picasso, The Seated Harlequin and The Two Brothers. Basel's chemical and pharmaceutical industry is one of the most important in the world.

Basel has the largest theatre complex for staging performances of all kinds and is classified as a real city of music. Business travellers will be generally attracted to the northern part of Basel. This is an essentially industrial area where most of Switzerland’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are based, as well as an important share of the country’s watch making industry.