Basel (French: Bâle, ital./rätorom./span. Basilea, Latin Basilia, Eng. Basle) is a city in the border triangle between Switzerland, Germany and France. The city of Basel, together with the municipalities of Riehen and Bettingen, form the Basel-Stadt half-canton. The city is divided into Kleinbasel on the right and Grossbasel with the Münsterhügel on the left bank of the Rhine. The former fishing village of Kleinhüningen is integrated into the city.
The actual center of the city is the old town in Grossbasel around the market square and the town hall from the 14th century, which with its narrow streets and alleys invites you to stroll. It is noteworthy that the old town in Gross- and Kleinbasel as well as the Middle Rhine Bridge, which connects both parts of the old town, are free of car traffic. Generally, visitors travel to the city center by tram.
After Zurich and Geneva, Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland and the center of the Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industry. It forms a railway junction with one of the largest shunting yards in Europe in neighboring Muttenz. With the cargo ports in the Basel region, the only ones in Switzerland, there is a connection to the North Sea via the Rhine. Basel Mulhouse Airport Freiburg is operated jointly with its French neighbors. It is located on French territory, but can be reached from Switzerland via an extraterritorial road. There is therefore a customs border within the airport area.
