View source for Basel

{{Short description|City in Switzerland}}
{{Redirect2|Basle|Basilea|4=Basle (disambiguation)|5=and|6=Basilea (disambiguation)||7=and|8=Basel (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Basil}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox Switzerland municipality
|subject_name      = Basel
|other_name        = Basle
|municipality_type = municipality, city, and canton
|image_photo       = {{Multiple image
  | total_width            = 270
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 2/2/1
  | caption_align          = center
  | image1                 = One autumn morning in Basel v2.jpg
  | caption1               = [[Rhine]] with [[Middle Bridge, Basel|Middle Bridge]] in background
  | image2                 = 11-11-24-basel-by-ralfr-035.jpg
  | caption2               = Old building of the [[University of Basel]] (below)
  | image3                 = Basler - Basler Münster Westfassade.jpg
  | caption3               = [[Basel Minster]]
  | image4                 = Basel - Münsterpanorama Juni 2019.jpg
  | caption4               = Panorama with Rhine, [[Basler Messeturm|Messeturm]], Roche Tower, and Wettsteinbrücke
 }}
|imagepath_flag    = Flag of Canton of Basel.svg
|imagepath_coa     = Wappen Basel-Stadt matt.svg
|pixel_coa         = 
|canton            = Basel-Stadt
|iso-code-region   = CH-BS
|district          = 
|coordinates       = {{coord|47|33|17|N|07|35|26|E|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code       = 4000
|municipality_code = 2701
|area              = 22.75
|elevation         = 261
|elevation_description = Barfüsserkirche
|highest           = Wasserturm Bruderholz
|highest_m         = 366 
|lowest            = [[Rhine]] shore, national border at Kleinhüningen
|lowest_m          = 244.75
|population        = 177,595 (city municipality)<br>830,000 (metropolitan area)
|mayor_asof        = January 2024
|mayor_party       = The Centre
|mayor_title       = 
|list_of_mayors    = List of presidents of the Executive Council of Basel
|executive_name    = [[#Government|Regierungsrat]]
|executive_number_of_members = 7
|parliament_name   = [[#Parliament|Grosser Rat]] 
|parliament_number_of_members = 100
|places            =
|demonyms           = {{langx|de|link=no|Basler(in)}}, {{langx|fr|link=no|Bâlois(e)}}, {{langx|it|Basilese}}, {{langx|rm|Basilean(a)}}
|neighboring_municipalities= [[Allschwil]] (BL), [[Hégenheim]] (FR-68), [[Binningen, Switzerland|Binningen]] (BL), [[Birsfelden]] (BL), [[Bottmingen]] (BL), [[Huningue]] (FR-68), [[Münchenstein]] (BL), [[Muttenz]] (BL), [[Reinach, Basel-Country|Reinach]] (BL), [[Riehen]] (BS), [[Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin|Saint-Louis]] (FR-68), [[Weil am Rhein]] (DE-BW)
|website           = www.bs.ch
}}

'''Basel''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɑː|z|əl}} {{respell|BAH|zəl}}; {{IPA|de-CH|ˈbaːzl̩|lang|de-Basel.ogg|}}), also known as '''Basle''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɑː|l}} {{respell|BAHL}}),<ref group="note">{{langx|fr|Bâle}} {{IPA|fr|bɑl|}}; {{langx|it|Basilea}} {{IPA|it|baziˈlɛːa|}}; {{langx|rm|label=[[Sutsilvan]]|Basileia}}; {{langx|rm|Basilea}} {{IPA|rm|baziˈleːɐ||roh-Basilea.ogg}}.</ref> is a city in northwestern [[Switzerland]] on the river [[Rhine]] (at the transition from the [[High Rhine|High]] to the [[Upper Rhine]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=City chief of staff |title=Tri-national metropolitan region (TMO) |url=https://www.marketing.bs.ch/en.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=canton of Basel-Town}}</ref> Basel is Switzerland's [[List of cities in Switzerland|third-most-populous]] city (after [[Zurich]] and [[Geneva]]), with 177,595 inhabitants within the city municipality limits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Population Review |title=Population of Cities in Switzerland 2023 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/cities/switzerland |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=World Population Review}}</ref>

Basel is commonly considered to be the cultural capital of Switzerland<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/switzerland-travel-itinerary-netjets-2002391 | title=Basel is Switzerland's Culture Capital; the Alps Have Art Worth Traveling for, Too. See Our City-and-Country Guide | date=13 September 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanton Basel-Stadt |title=Cultural Capital of Switzerland |url=https://www.bs.ch/System/impressum.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Kanton Basel-Stadt}}</ref> and the city is famous for its many [[Museums in Basel|museums]], including the [[Kunstmuseum Basel|Kunstmuseum]], which is the first collection of art accessible to the public in the world (1661) and the largest museum of [[Swiss art|art in Switzerland]], the [[Fondation Beyeler]] (located in [[Riehen]]), the [[Museum Tinguely]] and the [[Museum of Contemporary Art (Basel)|Museum of Contemporary Art]], which is the first public museum of contemporary art in Europe.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://kunstmuseumbasel.ch/de/museum/unsere-drei-haeuser| title = Unsere drei Häuser |publisher = Kunstmuseum Basel |language = de }}</ref> Forty museums are spread throughout the city-canton, making Basel one of the largest cultural centres in relation to its size and population in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haus des Sports |title=About Basel |url=https://swiss-fencing.ch/escrime/lescrime-evenements/basel2024/# |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Swiss Fencing}}</ref> It is the hometown of [[Art Basel]], the world's most prestigious and influential international art fair, showcasing modern and contemporary works from leading galleries and attracting top collectors, artists, and enthusiasts globally.

The [[University of Basel]], Switzerland's oldest university (founded in 1460),<ref>{{Cite web |last=University of Basel |title=History |url=https://www.unibas.ch/en/University/About-University/History.html |website=University of Basel}}</ref> and the city's centuries-long commitment to [[humanism]], have made Basel a safe haven at times of political unrest in other parts of Europe for such notable people as [[Erasmus of Rotterdam]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=University of Basel |title=History |url=https://www.unibas.ch/en/University/About-University/History.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=University of Basel}}</ref> the [[Hans Holbein the Younger|Holbein]] family, [[Friedrich Nietzsche]],<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Burghartz|last2= Kreis |first2=Susanna|first1= Georg |title=Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) |url=https://unigeschichte.unibas.ch/fakultaeten-und-faecher/philhist-fakultaet/philosophie/friedrich-nietzsche |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Unigeschichte.unibas.ch – an online project on the history of the University of Basel, Department of History of the University of Basel}}</ref> [[Carl Jung]], and in the 20th century also [[Hermann Hesse]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fischer-Zehnder |first=Eva |title=C. G. Jung – Biografische Zeittafel |url=https://www.psychologische-gesellschaft-basel.ch/c.-g.-jung/biographie/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Psychologische Gesellschaft Basel}}</ref> and [[Karl Jaspers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karl Jaspers-Foundation |title=The move from Heidelberg to Basel |url=https://jaspers-stiftung.ch/de/karl-jaspers/leben/leben |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Karl Jaspers-Foundation |archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616204953/https://jaspers-stiftung.ch/de/karl-jaspers/leben/leben |url-status=live }}</ref>

Basel was the seat of a [[Prince-Bishopric of Basel|Prince-Bishopric]] starting in the 11th century, and joined the [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Swiss Confederacy]] in 1501.<ref>{{Cite web |last=The Swiss Spectator ® |title=The Prince-Bishopric of Basel |url=https://www.swiss-spectator.ch/the-prince-bishopric-of-basel/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=The Swiss Spectator}}</ref> The city has been a commercial hub and an important cultural centre since the [[Renaissance]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dong |first=Xiang |title=Basel – a Swiss City Neighboring Germany and France |url=https://www.dong.world/2016/10/basel/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Dong World |date=25 October 2016 |archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616214348/https://www.dong.world/2016/10/basel/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and has emerged as a centre for the [[Chemical industry|chemical]] and [[Pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceutical industries]] in the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwan |first=Severin |title=Science and the city |url=https://www.roche.com/stories/science-and-the-city-basel/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd |archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616215850/https://www.roche.com/stories/science-and-the-city-basel/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1897, Basel was chosen by [[Theodor Herzl]] as the location for the first [[World Zionist Congress]], and altogether the congress was held there ten times over a time span of 50 years, more than in any other location.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City on the Rhine as centre of the Zionist movement |url=https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2022/08/city-on-the-rhine-as-centre-of-the-zionist-movement/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Swiss National Museum|date=29 August 2022 |last1=Heim |first1=Gabriel }}</ref> The city is also home to the world headquarters of the [[Bank for International Settlements]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bank for International Settlements Media and Public Relations team |title=Contact |url=https://www.bis.org/terms_conditions.htm#Copyright_and_Permissions |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Bank for International Settlements ("BIS") |date=16 December 2005 |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606203453/https://www.bis.org/terms_conditions.htm#Copyright_and_Permissions |url-status=live }}</ref> The name of the city is internationally known through institutions like the [[Basel Accords]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bank for International Settlements Media and Public Relations team |date=2001-01-16 |title=Basel II: The New Basel Capital Accord |url=https://www.bis.org/publ/bcbsca02.htm |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Bank for International Settlements}}</ref> [[Art Basel]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Noah |title=The Business of Art Runs on ArtBase |url=https://www.artbase.com/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Art Basel |archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616214345/https://www.artbase.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[FC Basel]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swiss Football League (SFL) |title=KONTINGENTSLISTEN CSSL |url=https://www.sfl-org.ch/themen/spielbetrieb/kontingentslisten/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Swiss Football League (SFL)}}</ref>

Basel is Switzerland's main centre for the pharmaceutical industry, hosting both [[Novartis]] and [[Roche]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biotech companies wing their way to the Basel Area |url=https://baselarea.swiss/blog-post/biotech-companies-wing-their-way-to-the-basel-area/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Basel Area Business & Innovation |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1938, the world-renowned chemist [[Albert Hofmann]] discovered [[LSD]] in Basel, where he spent most of his life. Other influential and renowned figures such as [[Roger Federer]], [[Paracelsus]], [[Matthäus Merian the Elder|Matthäus Merian]], [[Michel von Tell]] and [[Stephan Remmler]] are closely associated with the city or were born there. In 1734, the so-called '[[Basel problem|Basel Problem]]' was solved in the city, which is regarded as one of the most important achievements in mathematics.

The official language of Basel is [[German language|German]],{{refn|group=note|The official language in all municipalities in German-speaking Switzerland is German, where 'German' is used as an umbrella term for all varieties of German. By law, one may communicate with the authorities using any variant of German, in written or oral form. However, the authorities will always use [[Swiss Standard German]] (the Swiss variety of [[Standard German]]) in documents and writing. Orally, they would use either ''Hochdeutsch'' (i.e., Swiss Standard German or what the particular speaker considers ''High German''), or a dialectal variant depending on the speaker's origin. }} but the main spoken language is [[Basel German]], the local variant of the [[Alemannic German|Alemannic]] [[Swiss German]] dialect.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bideau |first=Nicolas |title=Languages and dialects |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/sprachen/sprachen-und-dialekte.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs}}</ref>
Basel was ranked the tenth most liveable city in the world by [[Mercer (consulting firm)|Mercer]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://mobilityexchange.mercer.com/Insights/quality-of-living-rankings| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230427234037/https://mobilityexchange.mercer.com/Insights/quality-of-living-rankings| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2023-04-27| title = Quality of Living City Ranking {{!}} Mercer}}</ref>

== Name ==
{{anchor|Name}}
The name of Basel is first recorded as ''Basilia'' in the 3rd century (237/8), at the time referring to the [[Basel oppidum|Roman castle]]. This name is mostly interpreted as deriving from the personal name ''Basilius'', from a toponym ''villa Basilia'' ("[[Roman villa|estate]] of Basilius") or similar.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benpenhill |title=Why is Basel called Basel? |url=https://profound-advice.com/why-is-basel-called-basel/ |website=Profound-Advice |access-date=17 June 2023 |archive-date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617062657/https://profound-advice.com/why-is-basel-called-basel/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Another suggestion derives it from a name ''Basilia'' attested in northern France as a development of ''basilica'', the term for a public or church building (as in [[Bazeilles]]), but all of these names reference early church buildings of the 4th or 5th century and cannot be adduced for the 3rd-century attestation of ''Basilia''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://search.ortsnamen.ch/de/|title= Basel|website= ortsnamen.ch|access-date= 10 February 2020|quote= einem nordgalloromanischen Ortsnamentypus *basilia (Fellmann 1981: 48s) gestellt.|archive-date= 17 December 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191217075845/https://search.ortsnamen.ch/de/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Kristol">''Basileam applicuerunt'' (AD 237 or 238). Andres Kristol: ''Basel BS (Basel Stadt)'' in: ''Dictionnaire toponymique des communes suisses – [[Lexikon der schweizerischen Gemeindenamen]] – Dizionario toponomastico dei comuni svizzeri (DTS|LSG).'' Centre de dialectologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Verlag Huber, Frauenfeld/Stuttgart/Wien 2005, {{ISBN|3-7193-1308-5}} und Éditions Payot, Lausanne 2005, {{ISBN|2-601-03336-3}}, S.&nbsp;125.</ref>

By popular etymology, or simple assonance, the [[basilisk]] becomes closely associated with the city, used as [[heraldic supporter]] from 1448, represented on coins minted by the city, and frequently found in ornaments.

The [[Middle French]] form {{lang|frm|Basle}} was adopted into English, but this form has fallen gradually out of use although it continues to be used with the modern French pronunciation in some sections of [[British English]],<ref>{{cite web |title=How to say Basel/Bâle/Basle/Basilea |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/magazinemonitor/2011/09/how_to_say_baselbalebaslebasil.shtml |website=BBC News |access-date=29 May 2022 |date=30 September 2011 |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529143820/https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/magazinemonitor/2011/09/how_to_say_baselbalebaslebasil.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Basle air crash: Memorial service marks 40th anniversary |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-22094227 |access-date=29 May 2022 |date=10 April 2013 |work=BBC News}}</ref> at least informally. Currently, the spelling ''Basel'' is most often used, to match the official German spelling.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man tells of axe escape from Basel plane crash |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-65179800 |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=BBC News |date=5 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Basel calling... |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002bq5k |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=BBC Sounds |date=16 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Austria's JJ wins Eurovision as UK finishes 19th |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-05-18/austrias-jj-wins-eurovision-as-israel-comes-second |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=ITV News |date=18 May 2025}}</ref> In French {{lang|fr|Basle}} was still in use in the 18th century, but was gradually replaced by the modern French spelling {{lang|fr|Bâle}}. In Icelandic, the city is recorded as {{lang|is|Buslaraborg}} in the 12th-century itinerary ''[[Leiðarvísir og borgarskipan]]''.

== History ==
{{For timeline}}

=== Early history ===
[[File:Theater Kaiseraugst.jpg|thumb|The [[Roman theatre (structure)|Roman theatre]] in Augusta Raurica, one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in Switzerland]]
There are traces of a settlement at the nearby [[Rhine knee]] from the early [[La Tène period]] (5th century BC). In the 2nd century BC, there was a village of the [[Raurici]] at the site of ''Basel-Gasfabrik'' (to the northwest of the Old City, and likely identical with the town of ''Arialbinnum'' that was mentioned on the ''[[Tabula Peutingeriana]]'').<ref>René Teuteberg: ''Basler Geschichte'', p. 49.</ref> The unfortified settlement was abandoned in the 1st century BC in favour of an ''[[Basel oppidum|oppidum]]'' on the site of [[Basel Minster]], probably in reaction to the [[Gallic War|Roman invasion of Gaul]].

In [[Roman Gaul]], [[Augusta Raurica]] was established some {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} from Basel as the regional administrative centre, while a ''[[castra|castrum]]'' (fortified camp) was built on the site of the [[Celtic nations|Celtic]] ''[[oppidum]]''. In AD 83, the area was incorporated into the [[Roman province]] of [[Germania Superior]]. The [[Roman Senate|Roman Senator]] [[Lucius Munatius Plancus|Munatius Plancus]] is known as the traditional founder of Basel since the Renaissance.<ref name="Werthmüller-2013">{{Cite book |last=Werthmüller |first=Hans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=18OeBgAAQBAJ |title=Tausend Jahre Literatur in Basel |date=2013-12-11 |publisher=Springer-Verlag |isbn=978-3-0348-6561-6 |pages=31 |language=de}}</ref> Roman control over the area deteriorated in the 3rd century, and Basel became an outpost of the ''[[Provincia Maxima Sequanorum]]'' formed by [[Diocletian]]. ''[[Basel oppidum|Basilia]]'' is first named by the [[Ammianus Marcellinus]] in his Res Gestae<ref name="Werthmüller-2013" /> as part of the Roman military fortifications along the Rhine in the late 4th century.

The Germanic confederation of the [[Alemanni]] attempted to cross the Rhine several times in the 4th century, but were repelled; one such event was the [[Battle of Solicinium]] (368). However, in the great invasion of AD 406, the Alemanni appear to have crossed the Rhine a final time, conquering and then settling what is today [[Alsace]] and a large part of the [[Swiss Plateau]].

The [[Duchy of Alemannia]] fell under [[Francia|Frankish]] rule in the 6th century. The Alemannic and [[Franks|Frankish]] settlement of Basel gradually grew around the old Roman castle in the 6th and 7th century. It appears that Basel surpassed the ancient regional capital of [[Augusta Raurica]] by the 7th century; based on the evidence of a gold ''[[tremissis]]'' (a small gold coin with the value of a third of a ''[[solidus (coin)|solidus]]'') with the inscription ''Basilia fit'', Basel seems to have minted its own coins in the 7th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hmb.ch/en/collection/object/basel-kopie-vom-gold-triens-des-muenzmeisters-gunso-anfangs-7-jh-vs.html |title=Basel. Kopie vom Gold-Triens des Münzmeisters Gunso, Anfangs 7. Jh., Vs. – HMB |date=7 February 2018 |access-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118094348/http://www.hmb.ch/en/collection/object/basel-kopie-vom-gold-triens-des-muenzmeisters-gunso-anfangs-7-jh-vs.html |archive-date=18 January 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Basel at this time was part of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Besançon|Archdiocese of Besançon]]. A separate [[bishopric of Basel]], replacing the ancient bishopric of [[Augusta Raurica]], was established in the 8th century. Under bishop [[Haito]] (r. 806–823), the first cathedral was built on the site of the Roman castle<ref>{{Cite web |title=Views of pre-medieval Basel |url=https://www.unibas.ch/en/News-Events/Uni-Nova/Uni-Nova-124/Uni-Nova-124-Views-of-pre-medieval-Basel.html |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=www.unibas.ch |language=en |archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517140933/https://www.unibas.ch/en/News-Events/Uni-Nova/Uni-Nova-124/Uni-Nova-124-Views-of-pre-medieval-Basel.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> (replaced by a Romanesque structure consecrated in 1019).

At the partition of the [[Carolingian Empire]] through the [[Treaty of Verdun]] in 843, Basel was first given to [[West Francia]] and became its German exclave.<ref name="Werthmüller-2013" /> It passed to [[East Francia]] with the [[Treaty of Meerssen]] of 870. Basel was destroyed by the [[Magyar invasion|Magyars]] in 917.<ref name="Werthmüller-2013" /> The rebuilt town became part of [[Upper Burgundy]], and as such was incorporated into the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in 1032.

=== Prince-Bishopric of Basel ===
{{main|Prince-Bishopric of Basel }}
[[File:Basler - Basler Münster Westfassade.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Basel Minster]], built between 1019 and 1500]]
[[File:Basler Fasnacht Cortège 2025-17.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Münsterplatz during [[Basler Fasnacht]]]]
From the donation by [[Rudolph III of Burgundy]]{{sfnb|Wood|2006|pp=285–286, 313}} of the [[Moutier-Grandval Abbey]] and all its possessions to Bishop [[Adalbero II of Metz]] in 999 until the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], Basel was ruled by [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Basel|Prince-Bishop]]s.<ref>''The New Encyclopædia Britannica'', [[Encyclopædia Britannica]], 1993, p.659</ref>

In 1019, the construction of the [[Basel Minster|cathedral of Basel]] (known locally as the ''Münster'') began under [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor]].<ref>Franz Kugler, ''[[Kleine Schriften]] und Studien zur Kunstgeschichte'', 1853, p. 486</ref>

In the 11th to 12th centuries, Basel gradually acquired the characteristics of a medieval [[city]]. The main market place is first mentioned in 1091. The first city walls were constructed around 1100 (with improvements made in the mid-13th and in the late 14th century). A city council of nobles and burghers is recorded for 1185, and the first [[mayor]], Heinrich Steinlin of Murbach, for 1253. The first bridge across the Rhine was built in 1225 under bishop [[Heinrich von Thun]] (at the location of the modern [[Middle Bridge, Basel|Middle Bridge]]), and from this time the settlement of ''Kleinbasel'' gradually formed around the bridgehead on the far river bank. The bridge was largely funded by Basel's Jewish community who had settled there a century earlier.<ref name="habicht">Habicht, Peter, ''Basel – A Center at the Fringe'' (Basel: Christoph Merian Verlag, 2006) pp. 43, 55, 70, 79.</ref> For many centuries{{dubious|date=July 2020}} to come Basel possessed the only permanent bridge over the river "between [[Lake Constance]] and the sea". The first city [[craft guild]] was the  [[furriers]], established in 1226. A total of about fifteen guilds were established in the course of the 13th century, reflecting the increasing economic prosperity of the city.<ref name="habicht"/> The [[Crusade of 1267]] set out from Basel.

Political conflicts between the bishops and the burghers began in the mid-13th century and continued throughout the 14th century. By the late 14th century, the city was for all practical purposes independent although it continued to nominally pledge fealty to the bishops. The [[House of Habsburg]] attempted to gain control over the city. This was not successful, but it caused a political split among the burghers of Basel into a pro-Habsburg faction, known as ''Sterner'', and an anti-Habsburg faction, the ''Psitticher''.
 
The [[Black Death]] reached Basel in 1348. The [[Persecution of Jews during the Black Death|Jews were blamed]], and an estimated 50 to 70 Jews were executed by burning on 16 January 1349 in what has become known as the [[Basel massacre]].<ref name="habicht"/> The [[1356 Basel earthquake|Basel earthquake of 1356]] destroyed much of the city along with a [[Rötteln Castle|number of castles]] in the vicinity.

{{anchor|Böse Fasnacht}} A riot on 26 February 1376, known as ''Böse Fasnacht'', led to the killing of a number of men of [[Leopold III, Duke of Austria]]. This was seen as a serious [[breach of the peace]], and the city council blamed "foreign ruffians" for this and executed twelve alleged perpetrators. Leopold nevertheless had the city placed under [[imperial ban]], and in a treaty of 9 July, Basel was given a heavy fine and was placed under Habsburg control. To free itself from Habsburg hegemony, Basel joined the [[Swabian League of Cities]] in 1385, and many knights of the pro-Habsburg faction, along with duke Leopold himself, were killed in the [[Battle of Sempach]] the following year. A formal treaty with Habsburg was made in 1393.

Basel had gained its de facto independence from both the bishop and from the Habsburgs and was free to pursue its own policy of territorial expansion, beginning around 1400.

{{anchor|Baselstab}}{{anchor|coat of arms}}
The unique representation of a bishops' [[crozier]] as the heraldic charge in the [[coat of arms of Basel]] first appears in the form of a gilded wooden staff in the 12th century. It is of unknown origin or significance (beyond its obvious status of bishop's crozier), but it is assumed to have represented a relic, possibly attributed to [[Germanus of Granfelden|Saint Germanus of Granfelden]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/kommunikation/baselstab.html |title=staatskanzlei.bs.ch |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=15 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715223344/https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/kommunikation/baselstab.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> This staff (known as ''Baselstab'') became a symbol representing the Basel diocese, depicted in bishops' seals of the late medieval period. It is represented in a heraldic context in the early 14th century, not yet as a heraldic charge but as a kind of heraldic achievement flanked by the heraldic shields of the bishop. The staff is also represented in the bishops's seals of the period. The use of the ''Baselstab'' in black as the coat of arms of the city was introduced in 1385. From this time, the ''Baselstab'' in red represented the bishop, and the same charge in black represented the city. The [[blazon]] of the municipal coat of arms is ''In Silber ein schwarzer Baselstab'' (Argent, a staff of Basel sable).<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-bs001.html Flags of the World.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021133543/http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-bs001.html |date=21 October 2012 }} accessed 18-April-2011</ref> In 1400, Basel was able to purchase the towns of [[Liestal]], [[Homburg, Switzerland|Homburg]] and [[Waldenburg, Switzerland|Waldenburg]] with its surrounding territory.<ref name="Landolt-1998">{{Cite book |last=Landolt |first=Niklaus |url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4282474 |title=Wettstein – die Schweiz und Europa 1648 |date=1998 |publisher=Christoph Merian Verlag |isbn=978-3-85616-098-2 |editor-last=Meles |editor-first=Brigitte |location=Basel |pages=46 |language=de |editor-last2=Historisches Museum Basel}}</ref>

[[File:Nuremberg chronicles - BASILEA.png|thumb|right|1493 woodcut of Basel, from the [[Nuremberg Chronicle]]]]
In 1412 (or earlier), the well-known [[Gasthof zum Goldenen Sternen]] was established. Basel became the focal point of western Christendom during the 15th century [[Council of Basel]] (1431–1449), including the 1439 election of [[antipope Felix V]]. In 1459, [[Pope Pius II]] endowed the [[University of Basel]], where such notables as [[Erasmus of Rotterdam]] and [[Paracelsus]] later taught. At the same time the new craft of [[printing press|printing]] was [[Global spread of the printing press#Switzerland|introduced to Basel]] by apprentices of [[Johann Gutenberg]]. In 1461, the land around [[Farnsburg Castle|Farnsburg]] became a part of Basel.<ref name="Landolt-1998" />

The [[Schwabe publishing house]] was founded in 1488 by [[Johannes Petri (printer)|Johannes Petri]] and is the oldest publishing house still in business. [[Johann Froben]] also operated his printing house in Basel and was notable for publishing works by Erasmus.<ref>Josef Nadler, ''Literaturgeschichte der deutschen Schweiz'', Grethlein 1932</ref> In 1495, Basel was incorporated into the [[Upper Rhenish Circle|Upper Rhenish Imperial Circle]]; the Bishop of Basel was added to the Bench of the Ecclesiastical Princes of the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Diet]]. In 1500 the construction of the [[Basel Münster]] was finished.

=== As a member state in the Swiss Confederacy ===
{{main|Canton of Basel}}
[[File:Merian Basel 1642.jpg|thumb|Map of Basel in 1642, [[Engraving|engraved]] by [[Matthäus Merian]], oriented with SW at the top and NE at the bottom]]
The city had remained neutral through the [[Swabian War]] of 1499 despite being plundered by soldiers on both sides. The [[Treaty of Basel (1499)|Treaty of Basel]] ended the war and granted the Swiss confederates exemptions from the emperor Maximillian's taxes and jurisdictions, separating Switzerland ''de facto'' from the Holy Roman Empire.<ref name="Rappard">Rappard, William, ''Collective Security in Swiss Experience 1291–1948'' (London, 1948) p. 85 ff</ref>

On 9 June 1501, Basel joined the Swiss Confederation as its [[Canton of Basel|eleventh canton]].<ref>Karl Strupp, ''Wörterbuch Des Völkerrechts'', De Gruyter 1960, p.225</ref> It was the only canton that was asked to join, not the other way round. Basel had a strategic location, good relations with [[Strasbourg]] and [[Mulhouse]], and control of the corn imports from Alsace, whereas the Swiss lands were becoming overpopulated and had few resources. A provision of the Charter accepting Basel required that in conflicts among the other cantons it was to stay neutral and offer its services for mediation.<ref name=autogenerated1>Habicht, Peter, ''Basel – A Center at the Fringe'' (Basel 2006) p. 65 ff</ref><ref name="Bonjour">Bonjour, Edgar ''et al.'' ''A short History of Switzerland'' (Oxford, 1952) p. 139 ff</ref>

In 1503, the new bishop [[Christoph von Utenheim]] refused to give Basel a new constitution; whereupon, to show its power, the city began to build a new city hall.<ref name="habicht"/>

In 1529, the city became Protestant under [[Johannes Oecolampadius|Oecolampadius]] and the bishop's seat was moved to [[Porrentruy]]. The bishop's crook was however retained as the city's coat of arms. For centuries to come, a handful of wealthy families collectively referred to as the [[Daig (Switzerland)|"Daig"]] played a pivotal role in city affairs as they gradually established themselves as a ''de facto'' [[Aristocracy|city aristocracy]].

The first edition of ''Christianae religionis institutio'' (''[[Institutes of the Christian Religion]]'' – [[John Calvin]]'s great exposition of [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] doctrine) was published at Basel in March 1536.<ref>Geoffrey Rudolph Elton, Harold Fullard, Henry Clifford Darby, Charles Loch Mowat, ''[[The New Cambridge Modern History]]'', 1990, p. 113</ref>

In 1544, Johann von Brugge, a rich Dutch Protestant refugee, was given citizenship and lived respectably until his death in 1556, then buried with honors. His body was exhumed and burnt at the stake in 1559 after it was discovered that he was the [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] [[David Joris]].<ref name="habicht"/>

In 1543, ''[[De humani corporis fabrica]]'', the first book on human anatomy, was published and printed in Basel by [[Andreas Vesalius]] (1514–1564).<ref>''The Illustrations from the Works of Andreas Vesalius of Brussels'', Courier Dover Publications 1973, p.30</ref>

There are indications that [[Joachim Meyer]], author of the influential 16th-century [[martial arts]] text ''Kunst des Fechten'' ("The Art of Fencing"), came from Basel. In 1661 the ''[[Amerbach Cabinet|Amerbaschsches Kabinett]],'' a vast collection of exotic artifacts, coins, medals and books was purchased by Basel.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Braungart |first=Wolfgang |date=1988 |title=Kunst-Besitzindividualismus : das Amerbachsche Kunstkabinett und die Entstehung der frühneuzeitlichen Kunstkammer |url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=kas-001:1988:39::568 |journal=Unsere Kunstdenkmäler: Mitteilungsblatt für die Mitglieder der Gesellschaft für Schweizerische Kunstgeschichte |issue=39 |pages=293–295, 298 |via=E-Periodica}}</ref> It was to become to the first public museum of art.<ref>Braungart, Wolfgang (1988). p.298</ref> Its collection became the core of the later [[Kunstmuseum Basel|Basel Museum of Art]].

The Bernoulli family, which included important 17th- and 18th-century mathematicians such as [[Jakob Bernoulli]], [[Johann Bernoulli]] and [[Daniel Bernoulli]], were from Basel. The 18th-century mathematician [[Leonhard Euler]] was born in Basel and studied under Johann Bernoulli.

=== Modern history ===
In 1792, the [[Rauracian Republic|Republic of Rauracia]], a revolutionary [[French client republic]], was created. It lasted until 1793.<ref>Heinrich Zschokke, Emil Zschokke, ''The History of Switzerland, for the Swiss People'', S. Low, Son & Co. 1855, p.253</ref> After three years of political agitation and a short civil war in 1833 the disadvantaged countryside seceded from the Canton of Basel, forming the half canton of [[Basel-Landschaft]].<ref>Heinrich Türler, Marcel Godet, Victor Attinger, ''Historisch-biographisches Lexikon der Schweiz'', 1934, p.307</ref> Between 1861 and 1878 the city walls were [[Slighting|slighted]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Appenzeller |first=Stephan |title=Basel und sein Tram |publisher=Christoph Merian Verlag |year=1995 |isbn=3856160639 |location=Basel |pages=12 |language=de}}</ref>

On 3 July 1874, Switzerland's first zoo, the [[Zoo Basel]], opened its doors in the south of the city towards [[Binningen, Switzerland|Binningen]].
[[File:THEODOR HERZL ADDRESSING THE FIRST OR SECOND ZIONIST CONGRESS IN BASEL, SWITZERLAND IN 1897-8. תאודור הרצל נואם בקונגרס הציוני הראשון או השני בבזל - שנת 1897-1898.jpg|thumb|First [[World Zionist Congress]] in Basel, 1897 (Stadtcasino)]]
In 1897 the first [[World Zionist Congress]] was held in Basel. Altogether the World Zionist Congress was held in Basel ten times, more than in any other city in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erster Zionistenkongress 1897 – Die Idee eines Judenstaates |url=http://www.domradio.de/radio/sendungen/anno-domini/die-idee-eines-judenstaates-erster-zionistenkongress-1897 |date=31 August 2015 |author=Ina Rottscheidt |publisher=domradio.de |location=Cologne, Germany |language=de |access-date=6 September 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923225551/http://www.domradio.de/radio/sendungen/anno-domini/die-idee-eines-judenstaates-erster-zionistenkongress-1897 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 16 November 1938, the psychedelic drug [[LSD]] was first synthesized by Swiss chemist [[Albert Hofmann]] at [[Sandoz]] Laboratories in Basel.

In 1967, the population of [[1967 Basel Picasso paintings purchase referendum|Basel voted in favor of buying three works of art by painter Pablo Picasso]] which were at risk of being sold and taken out of the local museum of art, due to a financial crisis on the part of the owner's family. Therefore, Basel became the first city in the world where the population of a political community democratically decided to acquire works of art for a public institution. [[Pablo Picasso]] was so moved by the gesture that he subsequently gifted the city with an additional three paintings.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.srf.ch/kultur/kunst/legendaerer-volksentscheid-das-picasso-wunder-von-basel| title = Legendärer Volksentscheid – Das Picasso-Wunder von Basel – Kultur – SRF| date = 16 March 2013}}</ref>

=== Basel as a historical, international meeting place ===
[[File:Herrliberger_Basel.jpg|left|Image of Basel in the''Topographie der Eidgenossenschaft'' (Topography of the [Swiss] Confederation) from 1761|thumb]]
Basel has often been the site of peace negotiations and other international meetings. The [[Treaty of Basel (1499)]] ended the [[Swabian War]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lay |first=Paul |date=1999-09-09 |title=The Treaty of Basel: An end to the Swabian War was reached on 22 September 1499. |url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/treaty-basel |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=History Today Ltd. |archive-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516173654/https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/treaty-basel |url-status=live }}</ref> Two years later Basel joined the [[Switzerland|Swiss Confederation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Livingston |first=Mark |date=2001 |title=Basel celebrates joining the Swiss Confederation |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/basel-celebrates-joining-the-swiss-confederation/2130988 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</ref> The [[Peace of Basel]] in 1795 between the [[French First Republic|French Republic]] and Prussia and Spain ended the [[First Coalition]] against France during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pagán |first=Carmen E. |date=2023-04-27 |title=Prussia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Prussia |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |archive-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508092225/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/480893/Prussia |url-status=live }}</ref> In more recent times, the [[World Zionist Organization]] held its first congress in Basel from 29 August through 31 August 1897. Because of the [[Balkan Wars]], the (Socialist) [[Second International]] held an extraordinary congress at Basel in 1912.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tosstorff |first=Reiner |title=The Cambridge History of Socialism |date=2022-11-03 |chapter=The Second International Reconstituted: The Labour and Socialist International, 1923–1940 |chapter-url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-history-of-socialism/second-international-reconstituted-the-labour-and-socialist-international-19231940/96C5CA2C8F464D10DDCF672EC01AB279 |website=2023-06-16|pages=300–320 |doi=10.1017/9781108611107.016 |isbn=9781108611107 }}</ref> In 1989, the [[Basel Convention]] was opened for signature with the aim of preventing the export of [[hazardous waste]] from wealthy to [[developing country|developing nations]] for disposal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Secretariat of the Basel Convention |title=Convention Overview |url=https://www.basel.int/TheConvention/Overview/tabid/1271/Default.aspx |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Basel Convention}}</ref>

== Geography and climate ==

=== Location ===
Basel is located in [[Northwestern Switzerland]] and is commonly considered to be the capital of that region.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Penhill|first=Ben|date=2019-10-20 |title=Is Basel in Germany or Switzerland? |url=https://short-fact.com/is-basel-in-germany-or-switzerland/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=short-fact}}</ref> It is close to the point where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, and Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elia |first=Letizia |title=Border triangle |url=https://www.basel.com/en/attractions/border-triangle-9d4ce8b6b0 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Basel}}</ref> {{As of|2016}}, the Swiss Basel agglomeration was the third-largest in Switzerland, with a population of 541,000<ref name=Agglomeration>{{cite web |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/cross-sectional-topics/city-statistics/agglomeration-portraits/basel.html |title=Agglomeration portraits: Basel |publisher=Federal Statistical Office FSO |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |type=official site |date=2017 |access-date=21 August 2018 |archive-date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821223124/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/cross-sectional-topics/city-statistics/agglomeration-portraits/basel.html |url-status=live }}</ref> in 74 municipalities in Switzerland (municipal count as of 2018).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/querschnittsthemen/raeumliche-analysen/raeumliche-gliederungen/analyseregionen.html |title=Analyseregionen |publisher=Federal Statistical Office FSO |date=21 February 2018 |type=official site |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |language=de, fr |access-date=22 August 2018 |archive-date=19 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019031743/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/querschnittsthemen/raeumliche-analysen/raeumliche-gliederungen/analyseregionen.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[metropolitan area]], called the [[Trinational Eurodistrict of Basel]] (TEB), consists of 62 suburban communes including municipalities in neighboring countries, and counted 829,000 inhabitants in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.are.admin.ch/are/de/home/raumentwicklung-und-raumplanung/programme-und-projekte/modellvorhaben-nachhaltige-raumentwicklung/modellvorhaben-nachhaltige-raumentwicklung-2002-2007/trinationaler-eurodistrict-basel--teb-.html |title=Trinationaler Eurodistrict Basel (TEB) |publisher=Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung ARE |date=2007 |type=official site |location=Berne, Switzerland |language=de, fr, it |access-date=22 August 2018 |archive-date=22 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822014743/https://www.are.admin.ch/are/de/home/raumentwicklung-und-raumplanung/programme-und-projekte/modellvorhaben-nachhaltige-raumentwicklung/modellvorhaben-nachhaltige-raumentwicklung-2002-2007/trinationaler-eurodistrict-basel--teb-.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Topography ===
[[File:MZA Chrischona4 retouched.jpg|thumb|Basel (in the upper left corner) as seen from Bettingen (television tower St. Chrischona) facing France]]
Basel has an area, {{as of|2009|lc=on}}, of {{convert|23.91|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}. Of this area, {{convert|0.95|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 4.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|0.88|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 3.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, {{convert|20.67|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 86.4% is settled (buildings or roads), {{convert|1.45|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 6.1% is either rivers or lakes.<ref name=BFS_land>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/02/03/blank/data/gemeindedaten.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711063506/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/02/03/blank/data/gemeindedaten.html |date=11 July 2024 }} 2009 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 25 March 2010</ref>

Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 10.2% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 40.7% and transportation infrastructure made up 24.0%. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 2.7% of the area while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 8.9%. Out of the forested land, all of the forested land area is covered with heavy forests. Of the agricultural land, 2.5% is used for growing crops and 1.3% is pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water.<ref name=BFS_land/>

=== Climate ===

Basel features a [[Temperateness|temperate]] [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Dobk'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=590607|title=Basel, Switzerland|website=Weatherbase|access-date=16 March 2020|archive-date=18 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081934/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=590607|url-status=dead}}</ref>, with cool, [[overcast]] winters and warm, humid summers.

The city averages 118.2 days of rain or snow annually and on average receives {{convert|842|mm|in|abbr=on}} of [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]]. The wettest month is May during which time Basel receives an average of {{convert|98|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain. The month with the most days of precipitation is also May, with an average of 11.7 days. The driest month of the year is February with an average of {{convert|45|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation over 8.4 days.<ref name=ClimateBB>{{cite web |url=http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/BAS/climsheet_BAS_np8110_e.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/BAS/climsheet_BAS_np8110_e.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Climate normals Basel / Binningen, Reference period 1981–2010 |publisher=Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology – MeteoSwiss |location=Zürich-Airport, Switzerland |date=2 July 2014 |access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>

{{Basel weatherbox}}

== Politics ==
The city of Basel functions as the capital of the [[Cantons of Switzerland|Swiss half-canton]] of [[Basel-Stadt]].

=== Canton ===
The canton Basel-Stadt consists of three municipalities: [[Riehen]], [[Bettingen]], and the city Basel itself. The political structure and agencies of the city and the canton are identical.

=== City ===

==== Quarters ====
The city itself has 19 quarters:

* ''Grossbasel'' (Greater Basel):

{{div col|colwidth=14em}}
:1 Altstadt Grossbasel
:2 Vorstädte
:3 Am Ring
:4 Breite
:5 St. Alban
:6 [[Gundeldingen]]
:7 Bruderholz
:8 Bachletten
:9 Gotthelf
:10 Iselin
:11 St. Johann
{{div col end}}

* ''Kleinbasel'' (Lesser Basel):

{{div col|colwidth=14em}}
:12 Altstadt Kleinbasel
:13 Clara
:14 Wettstein
:15 Hirzbrunnen
:16 Rosental
:17 Matthäus
:18 Klybeck
:19 Kleinhüningen
{{div col end}}

=== Government ===
The city's and canton's executive, the Executive Council (''Regierungsrat''), consists of seven members for a mandate period of 4 years. They are elected by any inhabitant valid to vote on the same day as the parliament,{{clarify|date=August 2018}} but by means of a system of [[Majorz]],{{clarify|date=August 2018}} and operates as a [[collegiate authority]]. The president ({{langx|de|link=no|Regierungspräsident(in)}}) is elected as such by a public election, while the heads of the other departments are appointed by the collegiate. The current president is [[Beat Jans]]. The executive body holds its meetings in the red [[Basel Town Hall|Town Hall]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Rathaus}}) on the central ''Marktplatz''. The building was built in 1504–14.

{{As of|2021}}, Basel's Executive Council is made up of three representatives of the SP ([[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party]]) including the president, two LDP ([[Liberal-Demokratische Partei of Basel]]), and one member each of [[Green Liberal Party of Switzerland|Green Liberals (glp)]], and CVP ([[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|Christian Democratic Party]]).<ref name=Regrat>{{cite web |url=http://www.regierungsrat.bs.ch/mitglieder.html |title=Mitglieder |publisher=Regierungsrat des Kantons Basel-Stadt |location=Basel |type=official site |date=2021 |language=de |access-date=2021-10-25 |archive-date=31 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231213221/http://www.regierungsrat.bs.ch/mitglieder.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The last election was held on 25 October and 29 November 2020 and four new members have been elected.<ref name=Elect20/>

{|class="wikitable"
|+ The ''Regierungsrat'' of Basel<ref name=Regrat/> for the mandate period 2021–25
! Councillor (''Regierungsrat/ -rätin'') !! Party !! Head of Office (''Departement'', since) of !! 
elected since
|-
| [[Beat Jans]]<ref group=RR>President (''Regierungspräsident'')</ref> || {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} SP || President's Office (''Präsidialdepartement (PD)'', 2021) || 2020
|-
|[[Tanja Soland]]|| {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} SP || Finance (''Finanzdepartement (FD)'')|| 2019
|-
| [[Stephanie Eymann]]|| {{color box|#3265FF|border=silver}} LDP || Justice and Security (''Justiz- und Sicherheitsdepartement (JSD)'', 2021) || 2020
|-
| [[Kaspar Sutter]]|| {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} SP || Economics, Social Services, and Environment (''Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt (WSU)'', 2021) || 2020
|-
| [[Conradin Cramer]] || {{color box|#3265FF|border=silver}} LDP || Education (''Erziehungsdepartement (ED)'', 2017) || 2016
|-
| [[Esther Keller]]|| {{color box|{{party color|Green Liberal Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} glp || Construction and Transportation (''Bau- und Verkehrsdepartement (BVD)'', 2021) || 2020
|-
| [[Lukas Engelberger]]|| {{color box|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} CVP || Health (''Gesundheitsdepartement (GD)'', June 2014) || June 2014
|}
{{reflist|group=RR}}

Barbara Schüpbach-Guggenbühlis is State Chronicler (''Staatsschreiberin'') since 2009, and Marco Greiner is Head of Communication (''Regierungssprecher'') and Vice State Chronicler (''Vizestaatsschreiber'') since 2007 for the Executive Council.

=== Parliament ===
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = ''Grosser Rat'' of Basel for the mandate period of 2021–2025
| other = 
| label1 =SP
| value1 =30
| color1 ={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}
| label2 =GAB
| value2 =18
| color2 ={{party color|Green Party of Switzerland}}
| label3 =glp
| value3 =8
| color3 ={{party color|Green Liberal Party of Switzerland}}
| label4 =CVP
| value4 =7
| color4 ={{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}
| label5 =EVP
| value5 =3
| color5 ={{party color|Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland}}
| label6 =LDP
| value6 =14
| color6 =#3265FF
| label7 =FDP
| value7 =7
| color7 ={{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}
| label8 =SVP
| value8 =11
| color8 ={{party color|Swiss People's Party}}
| label9 =AB
| value9 =1
| color9 =Grey
| label10 =VA
| value10 =1
| color10 =Grey
}}
The city's and canton's parliament, the [[Grand Council of Basel-Stadt]] ('''Grosser Rat'''), consists of 100 seats, with members (called in German: ''Grossrat/Grossrätin'') elected every 4 years. The sessions of the Grand Council are public. Unlike the members of the Executive Council, the members of the Grand Council are not politicians by profession, but they are paid a fee based on their attendance. Any resident of Basel allowed to vote can be elected as a member of the parliament. The delegates are elected by means of a system of [[Proportional representation|Proporz]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grosserrat.bs.ch/parlament/wahlen/proporz |title=Proporzwahl |type=official site |publisher=Grosser Rat des Kantons Basel-Stadt |language=de |location=Basel |access-date=2021-10-25}}</ref> The legislative body holds its meetings in the red Town Hall (''Rathaus'').

The last election was held on 25 October 2020 for the mandate period (''Legislatur'') of 2021–2025.<ref name=Elect20>{{cite web |url=https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/resultate-archiv/wahlen-2020.html |title=Wahlen 2020 |type=official site |publisher=Staatskanzlei, Kanton Basel-Stadt |language=de |location=Basel |access-date=2021-10-25 |archive-date=25 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025160708/https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/resultate-archiv/wahlen-2020.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{As of|2021|02|01}}, the Grand Council consist of 30 (−5) members of the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party (SP)]], 18 (+5) ''Grün-Alternatives Bündnis (GAB)'' (a collaboration of the [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green Party (GPS)]], its junior party, and [[Basels starke Alternative]] (BastA!)), 14 (−1) [[Liberal-Demokratische Partei of Basel|Liberal-Demokratische Partei (LDP)]], 11 (−4) members of the [[Swiss People's Party]] (SVP), 8 (+5) [[Green Liberal Party of Switzerland|Green Liberal Party (glp)]], 7 (−3) [[FDP.The Liberals|The Liberals (FDP)]], 7 (-) [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP)]], 3 (+2) [[Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland|Evangelical People's Party (EVP)]], and one each representative of the ''Aktive Bettingen (AB)'' and ''Volks-Aktion gegen zuviele Ausländer und Asylanten in unserer Heimat'' (VA).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grosserrat.bs.ch/de/mitglieder-gremien/kraefteverhaeltnis |title=Politisches Kräfteverhältnis |type=official site |publisher=Grosser Rat des Kantons Basel-Stadt |language=de |location=Basel |access-date=2021-10-25 |archive-date=19 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419155904/http://www.grosserrat.bs.ch/de/mitglieder-gremien/kraefteverhaeltnis |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The left parties missed an absolute majority by two seats.

=== Federal elections ===

==== National Council ====
In the [[2019 Swiss federal election|2019 federal election]] the most popular party was the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party (SP)]] which received two seats with 34% (−1) of the votes. The next five most popular parties were the [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green Party (GPS)]] (19.4%, +7.3), the [[Liberal Party of Switzerland|LPS]] (14.5%, +3.6) and the [[FDP Basel|FDP]] (5.8, −3.5), which are chained together at 20.3%, (+0.1), the [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]] (11.3%, -5.5), and the [[Green Liberal Party of Switzerland|Green Liberal Party (GLP)]] (5%, +0.6), [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|CVP]] (4.1%, -1.9).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfsstatic/dam/assets/9386461/appendix |title=NR – Ergebnisse Parteien (Gemeinden) (INT1) |format=CSV |editor=Swiss Federal Statistical Office, FSO |type=official statistics |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office, FSO |via=opendata.swiss |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |date=28 November 2019 |language=de, fr, it |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-date=11 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811013939/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfsstatic/dam/assets/9386461/appendix |url-status=live }}</ref> In the federal election, a total of 44,628 votes were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 49.4%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfsstatic/dam/assets/9386463/appendix |title=NR – Wahlbeteiligung (Gemeinden) (INT1) |format=CSV |editor=Swiss Federal Statistical Office, FSO |type=official statistics |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office, FSO |via=opendata.swiss |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |date=28 November 2019 |language=de, fr, it |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-date=11 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811014252/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfsstatic/dam/assets/9386463/appendix |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 October 2015, in the [[2015 Swiss federal election|federal election]] the most popular party was the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party (SP)]] which received two seats with 35% of the votes. The next three most popular parties were the [[FDP.The Liberals|FDP]] (20.2%), the [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]] (16.8%), and the [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green Party (GPS)]] (12.2%), each with one seat. In the federal election, a total of 57,304 votes were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 50.4%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politik-stat.ch/nrw2015BS_de.html |title=Kanton Basel-Stadt, Nationalrat, 5 Sitze |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |language=de, fr, it |date=18 October 2015 |access-date=28 October 2015}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ National Councillors (''Nationalrat/ -rätin'') of Basel-Town 2019–2023<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ch.ch/en/elections2015/results-national-council/resultate-kanton/cantonal-results/?canton=bs |title=National Council – Results: Basel-Town |publisher=Swiss Federal Confederation |date=18 October 2015 |access-date=28 October 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113742/https://www.ch.ch/en/elections2015/results-national-council/resultate-kanton/cantonal-results/?canton=bs |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! Councillor !! Party !! part of the [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]] since || no. of votes
|-
| [[Beat Jans]] || {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} SP || 2010 || 21,869
|-
| [[Mustafa Atici]] || {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} SP || 2019 || 18,210<ref group="note">Since [[Eva Herzog]] also got elected as a [[State Councillor (Switzerland)|State Councillor]], she got replaced by Mustafa Atici of the same party.</ref>
|-
| [[Sibel Arslan]] || {{color box|{{party color|Green Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} GPS || 2015 || 13,582
|-
| [[Christoph Eymann]]|| {{color box|{{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}|border=silver}} LDP || 2015 (1991–2001) || 13,220
|-
| [[Katja Christ]] || {{color box|{{party color|Green Liberal Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} GLP || 2019 || 13,816
|}

==== Council of States ====
On 20 October 2019, in the [[2019 Swiss federal election|federal election]] [[Eva Herzog]], member of the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} (SP)]], was elected for the first time as a State Councillor ({{lang|de|Ständerätin}}) in the first round as single representative of the canton of Basel-Town and successor of Anita Fetz in the national [[Council of States (Switzerland)|Council of States]] ({{lang|de|Ständerat}}) with an absolute majority of 37'210 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/politik/wahlen/staenderatswahlen.assetdetail.11048405.html |title=Ständeratswahlen: Ergebnisse der Kandidierenden |type=official site |format=XLSX |language=de, fr |publisher=Swiss Federal Confederation |location=Berne, Switzerland |date=29 November 2015 |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328202402/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/politik/wahlen/staenderatswahlen.assetdetail.11048405.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 October 2015, in the [[2015 Swiss federal election|federal election]] State Councillor ({{langx|de|link=no|Ständerätin}}) [[Anita Fetz]], member of the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=silver}} (SP)]], was re-elected in the first round as single representative of the canton of Basel-Town in the national [[Council of States (Switzerland)|Council of States]] ({{lang|de|Ständerat}}) with an absolute majority of 35'842 votes. She has been a member of it since 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ch.ch/en/elections2015/resultate-staenderat/resultate-kanton/kanton/?canton=bs |title=Council of States – Results: Basel-Town |publisher=Swiss Federal Confederation |type=official site |location=Berne, Switzerland |date=18 October 2015 |access-date=28 October 2015 |archive-date=23 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123211213/https://www.ch.ch/en/elections2015/resultate-staenderat/resultate-kanton/kanton/?canton=bs |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== International relations ===

==== Twin towns, sister cities and partner regions ====
Basel has two [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister cities]] and a twinning among two states:<ref name=TT>{{cite web |url=https://www.marketing.bs.ch/en/external-affairs/city-partnerships.html |title=City Partnerships |publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt |access-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209200217/https://www.marketing.bs.ch/en/external-affairs/city-partnerships.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

* {{flagicon|USA}} US state of [[Massachusetts]], since 2002<ref name=TT/>
* {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Shanghai]], China, since 2007<ref name=TT/>
* {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Toyama Prefecture]], Japan, since 2009<ref name=TT/>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Miami Beach]], US, since 2011<ref name=TT/>
* {{flagicon|CIV}} [[Abidjan]], Ivory Coast, since 2021<ref name=TT/>
* {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Seoul]], South Korea, since 2022<ref name=TT/>

==== Partner cities ====
* {{flagdeco|NLD}} [[Rotterdam]], Netherlands, since 1945<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rotterdam.nl/CMO/Document/Merkstrategie%20NL%20nov%202008.pdf |title=Rotterdam Een Sterk Internationaal Merk |website=www.rotterdam.nl |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629134252/http://www.rotterdam.nl/CMO/Document/Merkstrategie%20NL%20nov%202008.pdf |archive-date=29 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+ Largest groups of foreign residents 2021
|-
!Nationality || Number || % total<br />(foreigners)
|-
||{{flag|Germany}}|| 16,562 || 8.2 (22.3)
|-
||{{flag|Italy}}|| 8,671 || 4.3 (11.7)
|-
||{{flag|Turkey}}|| 5,741 || 2.8 (7.7)
|-
||{{flag|Spain}}|| 4,176 || 2.0 (5.6)
|-
||{{flag|Portugal}}|| 3,390 || 1.7 (4.6)
|-
||{{flag|France}}|| 2,393 || 1.2 (3.2)
|-
||{{flag|Kosovo}}|| 2,186 || 1.1 (2.9)
|-
||{{flag|United Kingdom}}|| 2,132 || 1.1 (2.7)
|-
||{{flag|North Macedonia}}|| 2,095 || 1.0 (2.8)
|-
||{{flag|Serbia}}|| 1,797 || 0.9 (2.4)
|-
||{{flag|India}}|| 1,661 || 0.8 (2.2)
|-
||{{flag|USA}}|| 1,629 || 0.8 (2.2)
|-
||{{flag|Austria}}|| 1,273 || 0.6 (1.7)
|-
|}

{{Historical populations|1850|27844|1860|38692|1870|44868|1880|61737|1888|71131|1900|109161|1910|132276|1920|135976|1930|148063|1941|162105|1950|183543|1960|206746|1970|212857|1980|182143|1990|178428|2000|166558|2010|163216|2020|173863|source=<ref>{{cite web |title=Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, 1850-2000 |trans-title=Population development according to institutional divisions, 1850-2000|url=https://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/pxweb/en/px-x-4004000000_101/-/px-x-4004000000_101.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=513a4f6a-09be-49d1-99c7-23421ad2dd49|publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Federal Statistical Office]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Permanent resident population by Year, Canton / District / Commune|url=https://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/pxweb/en/px-x-0102010000_101/-/px-x-0102010000_101.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=18b2f0c5-2cf6-4847-9f6f-3f23d3e7129d|publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Federal Statistical Office]]}}</ref>}}The canton of Basel (slightly more than the city itself) has a population ({{as of|2021}}) of 201,971, of whom 36.9% are resident foreign nationals.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.statistik.bs.ch/haeufig-gefragt/einwohner/auslaender.html |title=Ausländische Bevölkerung |publisher=Statistisches Amt, Kanton Basel-Stadt |format=XSL |language=de |date=2022 |accessdate=2022-01-08 |archive-date=17 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217143425/http://www.statistik-bs.ch/tabellen/t01/1/t01.1.12.xls |url-status=live }}</ref>

Over the 10 years of 1999–2009 the population has changed at a rate of −0.3%. It has changed at a rate of 3.2% due to migration and at a rate of −3% due to births and deaths.<ref name=SFSO>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105172441/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html |date=5 January 2016 }} accessed 18-April-2011</ref>

Of the population in the municipality 58,560 or about 35.2% were born in Basel and lived there in 2000. There were 1,396 or 0.8% who were born in the same canton, while 44,874 or 26.9% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 53,774 or 32.3% were born outside of Switzerland.<ref name=STAT2000/>

In {{as of|2008|alt=2008}} there were 898 live births to Swiss citizens and 621 births to non-Swiss citizens, and in same time span there were 1,732 deaths of Swiss citizens and 175 non-Swiss citizen deaths. Ignoring immigration and emigration, the population of Swiss citizens decreased by 834 while the foreign population increased by 446. There were 207 Swiss men and 271 Swiss women who emigrated from Switzerland. At the same time, there were 1756 non-Swiss men and 1655 non-Swiss women who immigrated from another country to Switzerland. The total Swiss population change in 2008 (from all sources, including moves across municipal borders) was an increase of 278 and the non-Swiss population increased by 1138 people. This represents a [[population growth rate]] of 0.9%.<ref name="HDS_superweb">[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Superweb database – Gemeinde Statistics 1981–2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628151016/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html |date=28 June 2010 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 19 June 2010</ref>

{{as of|2000}}, there were 70,502 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 70,517 married individuals, 12,435 widows or widowers, and 13,104 individuals who are divorced.<ref name=STAT2000>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true STAT-TAB Datenwürfel für Thema 40.3 – 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809142611/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true |date=9 August 2013 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 2 February 2011</ref>

{{as of|2000}} the average number of residents per living room was 0.59 which is about equal to the cantonal average of 0.58 per room.<ref name=SFSO/> In this case, a room is defined as space of a housing unit of at least {{convert|4|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} as normal bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens and habitable cellars and attics.<ref name=EurostatSA1>{{cite book |editor=Alves, Nuno |display-editors=etal |publisher=Eurostat |title=Urban Audit Glossary |section=Housing (SA1) |version=June 2007 |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/international/22/lexi.Document.116365.pdf |access-date=2 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114023016/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/international/22/lexi.Document.116365.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2009  }}</ref>{{rp|18v}} About 10.5% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a [[Mortgage loan|mortgage]] or a [[rent-to-own]] agreement).<ref name=EurostatSA1/>{{rp|17}}
{{as of|2000}}, there were 86,371 private households in the municipality, and an average of 1.8 persons per household.<ref name=SFSO/> There were 44,469 households that consist of only one person and 2,842 households with five or more people. Out of a total of 88,646 households that answered this question, 50.2% were households made up of just one person and there were 451 adults who lived with their parents. Of the rest of the households, there are 20,472 married couples without children, 14,554 married couples with children There were 4,318 single parents with a child or children. There were 2,107 households that were made up of unrelated people and 2,275 households that were made up of some sort of institution or another collective housing.<ref name=STAT2000/>

{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 5,747 single family homes (or 30.8% of the total) out of a total of 18,631 inhabited buildings. There were 7,642 multi-family buildings (41.0%), along with 4,093 multi-purpose buildings that were mostly used for housing (22.0%) and 1,149 other use buildings (commercial or industrial) that also had some housing (6.2%). Of the single family homes 1090 were built before 1919, while 65 were built between 1990 and 2000. The greatest number of single family homes (3,474) were built between 1919 and 1945.<ref name=Housing>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=trueSwiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB – Datenwürfel für Thema 09.2 – Gebäude und Wohnungen] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121033424/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=trueSwiss |date=21 January 2015 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref>

{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 96,640 apartments in the municipality. The most common apartment size was 3 rooms of which there were 35,958. There were 11,957 single room apartments and 9,702 apartments with five or more rooms. Of these apartments, a total of 84,675 apartments (87.6% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 7,916 apartments (8.2%) were seasonally occupied and 4,049 apartments (4.2%) were empty.<ref name=Housing/> {{as of|2009}}, the construction rate of new housing units was 2.6 new units per 1000 residents.<ref name=SFSO/>

{{as of|2003}} the average price to rent an average apartment in Basel was 1118.60 [[Swiss franc]]s (CHF) per month (US$890, £500, €720 approx. exchange rate from 2003). The average rate for a one-room apartment was 602.27 CHF (US$480, £270, €390), a two-room apartment was about 846.52 CHF (US$680, £380, €540), a three-room apartment was about 1054.14 CHF (US$840, £470, €670) and a six or more room apartment cost an average of 2185.24 CHF (US$1750, £980, €1400). The average apartment price in Basel was 100.2% of the national average of 1116 CHF.<ref name=BFS_rent>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/05/06/blank/key/einfuehrung.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Rental prices] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423161803/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/05/06/blank/key/einfuehrung.html |date=23 April 2010 }} 2003 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 26 May 2010</ref> The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2010|alt=in 2010}}, was 0.74%.<ref name=SFSO/>

=== Language ===
In 2000, most of the population spoke German (129,592 or 77.8%), with Italian being second most common (9,049 or 5.4%) and French being third (4,280 or 2.6%). There were 202 people who spoke [[Romansh language|Romansh]].<ref name=STAT2000/>

=== Religion ===
[[File:Basler Synagoge(ws) retouched.jpg|thumb|The main synagogue of Basel]]
From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 41,916 or 25.2% were [[Roman Catholic]], while 39,180 or 23.5% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]]. Of the rest of the population, there were 4,567 members of an [[Orthodoxy#Christianity|Orthodox church]] (or about 2.74% of the population), 459 individuals (or about 0.28% of the population) who belonged to the [[Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland|Christian Catholic Church]] and 3,464 individuals (or about 2.08% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There were 12,368 individuals (or about 7.43% of the population) who were Muslim, 1,325 individuals (or about 0.80% of the population) who were Jewish, however only members of religious institutions are counted as such by the municipality, which makes the actual number of people of [[Jews in Switzerland|Jewish descent]] living in Basel considerably higher. There were 746 individuals who were [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], 947 individuals who were Hindu and 485 individuals who belonged to another church. 52,321 (or about 31.41% of the population) belonged to no church, are agnostic or [[Atheism|atheist]], and 8,780 individuals (or about 5.27% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name="STAT2000"/>

== Infrastructure ==

=== Quarters ===
Basel is subdivided into 19 quarters (''Quartiere''). The municipalities of [[Riehen]] and [[Bettingen]], outside the city limits of Basel, are included in the canton of Basel-Stadt as rural quarters (''Landquartiere'').

{| class="wikitable collapsible autocollapse sortable"
|-
! Quartier
! Area
! Population <br />(March 2012<ref name="Basel_stat_2012">[http://www.statistik-bs.ch/tabellen/t01/1 Canton of Basel-Stadt Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505012358/http://www.statistik-bs.ch/tabellen/t01/1/|date=5 May 2012}}, MS Excel document – ''Bevölkerung nach Wohnviertel im März 2012'' {{in lang|de}} accessed 3 May 2012</ref><small>)</small>
! Population density <br />(people/km2)
|-
| Altstadt Grossbasel (historic city) || style="text-align:right;"| 37.63 || style="text-align:right;"| 2,044 || style="text-align:right;"| {{Pop density|2044|.3763|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Vorstädte (historical suburbs) || style="text-align:right;"| 89.66 || style="text-align:right;"| 4,638|| style="text-align:right;"| {{Pop density|4638|.8966|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Am Ring || style="text-align:right;"| 90.98 || style="text-align:right;"| 10,512|| style="text-align:right;"| {{Pop density|10512|.9098|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Breite || style="text-align:right;"|68.39 || style="text-align:right;"| 8,655|| style="text-align:right;"| {{Pop density|8655|.6839|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| St. Alban || style="text-align:right;"| 294.46 || style="text-align:right;"| 10,681|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|10681|2.94|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Gundeldingen || style="text-align:right;"|123.19 || style="text-align:right;"| 18,621|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|18621|1.23|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Bruderholz || style="text-align:right;"|259.61 || style="text-align:right;"| 9,006|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|9006|2.59|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Bachletten || style="text-align:right;"|151.39 || style="text-align:right;"| 13,330|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|13330|1.51|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Gotthelf || style="text-align:right;"|46.62 || style="text-align:right;"| 6,784|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|6784|.4662|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Iselin || style="text-align:right;"|109.82 || style="text-align:right;"| 16,181|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|16181|1.09|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| St. Johann || style="text-align:right;"|223.90 || style="text-align:right;"| 18,560|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|18560|2.23|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Altstadt Kleinbasel (historic city) || style="text-align:right;"| 24.21 || style="text-align:right;"| 2,276|| style="text-align:right;"| {{Pop density|2276|.2421|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Clara || style="text-align:right;"| 23.66 || style="text-align:right;"| 4,043|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|4043|.2366|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Wettstein || style="text-align:right;"| 75.44 || style="text-align:right;"| 5,386|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|5386|.7544|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Hirzbrunnen || style="text-align:right;"| 305.32 || style="text-align:right;"| 8,676|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|8676|3.05|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Rosental || style="text-align:right;"| 64.33 || style="text-align:right;"| 5,180|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|5180|.6433|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Mattäus || style="text-align:right;"| 59.14 || style="text-align:right;"| 16,056|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|16056|.5914|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Klybeck || style="text-align:right;"| 91.19 || style="text-align:right;"| 7,234|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|7234|.9119|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| Kleinhüningen || style="text-align:right;"| 136.11 || style="text-align:right;"| 2,772|| style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|2772|1.36|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| '''City of Basel''' || style="text-align:right;"| '''2275.05''' || style="text-align:right;"| {{Swiss populations|CH-BS|2701}}<small>{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BS}}</small> || style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|{{Swiss populations NC|CH-BS|2701}}|22.7|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| [[Bettingen]] || style="text-align:right;"| 222.69 || style="text-align:right;"| {{Swiss populations|CH-BS|2702}}<small>{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BS}}</small> || style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|{{Swiss populations NC|CH-BS|2702}}|2.2|km2|disp=num}}
|-
| [[Riehen]] || style="text-align:right;"| 1086.10 || style="text-align:right;"| {{Swiss populations|CH-BS|2703}}<small>{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BS}}</small> || style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|{{Swiss populations NC|CH-BS|2703}}|10.8|km2|disp=num}}
|-
|'''Canton of Basel-Stadt''' || style="text-align:right;"| '''3583.84''' || style="text-align:right;"| {{Swiss populations|CH-BS|CH-BS}}<small>{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BS}}</small> || style="text-align:right;"|{{Pop density|{{Swiss populations NC|CH-BS|CH-BS}}|35.8|km2|disp=num}}
|}

=== Transport ===
Basel's airport, [[EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg]], is set up for airfreight; heavy goods reach the city and the heart of [[continental Europe]] from [[North Sea|the North Sea]] by ship along the Rhine.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

==== Port ====
{{See also|Merchant Marine of Switzerland}}
[[File:Middle Bridge, Basel, Switzerland.JPG|thumb|The Rhine in Basel as Switzerland's gateway to the sea]]
Basel has Switzerland's only cargo port, through which goods pass along the navigable stretches of the [[Rhine]] and connect to ocean-going ships at the [[port of Rotterdam]].

==== Air transport ====
[[EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg]] is operated jointly by two countries, France and Switzerland, although the airport is located completely on French soil. The airport itself is split into two architecturally independent sectors, one half serving the French side and the other half serving the Swiss side; prior to [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen]] there was an immigration inspection point at the middle of the airport so that people could "emigrate" to the other side of the airport.

==== Railways ====
[[File:Bahnhof Basel SBB (50196008388).jpg|thumb|right|[[Basel SBB railway station|Basel SBB]] station, built in 1907]]
Basel was the first Swiss city with a railway station and it has long held an important place as a rail hub.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Burckhardt|first=Paul|title=Geschichte der Stadt Basel von der Zeit der Reformation bis zur Gegenwart|publisher=Helbing & Lichtenhahn|year=1942|location=Basel|pages=263}}</ref> Three main railway stations—those of the [[Rail transport in Switzerland|Swiss]], [[Rail transport in France|French]] and [[Rail transport in Germany|German]] networks—lie within the city, although the Swiss ([[Basel SBB railway station|Basel SBB]]) and French ([[Basel SBB railway station|Bâle SNCF]]) stations are actually in the same complex, separated by customs and immigration facilities. The German [[Basel Badischer Bahnhof]] (abbreviated to {{lang|de|Basel Bad Bf}}) is on the northern side of the city. Two other, smaller stations within the city limits are {{rws|Basel Dreispitz}} and {{rws|Basel St. Johann}}. All stations are connected to the local [[Basler Verkehrsbetriebe|tram and bus network]] (BVB). Basel's regional rail services are supplied by the [[Basel S-Bahn]], which links the city with destinations in Switzerland, France and Germany.

Most long-distance trains call at Basel SBB station, such as [[EuroCity|EC]], [[TGV Lyria|TGV]], [[Intercity Express|ICE]], [[InterCity (Switzerland)|IC]] and [[InterRegio#Switzerland|IR]] services. The ICE also calls at Basel Bad Bf. The new [[high-speed rail|high-speed]] ICE railway line from [[Karlsruhe–Basel high-speed railway|Karlsruhe to Basel]] was completed in 2008 while phase I of the [[LGV Rhin-Rhône|TGV Rhine-Rhône]] line, opened in December 2011, has reduced travel time from Basel to Paris to about 3 hours.<ref>[http://www.infolignes.com/recherche.php?date_num_train=2012|05|14&type_heure=1&train_horaire_depart=14|00&next_horaire=14|00&num_train=9218 SNCF website, TGV Lyria 9218] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930202505/http://www.infolignes.com/recherche.php?date_num_train=2012%7C05%7C14&type_heure=1&train_horaire_depart=14%7C00&next_horaire=14%7C00&num_train=9218 |date=30 September 2014 }} accessed 14 May 2012</ref>

The largest goods railway complex of the country<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basel.com/en/getting-there-exploring-the-city/Basel-s-railway-stations|title=Arrival by train|access-date=16 October 2020|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017223940/https://www.basel.com/en/getting-there-exploring-the-city/Basel-s-railway-stations|url-status=live}}</ref> is located just outside the city, spanning the [[municipalities of Switzerland|municipalities]] of [[Muttenz]] and [[Pratteln]].

==== Roads ====
Basel is located on the [[A3 motorway (Switzerland)|A3 motorway]].

Within the city limits, five bridges connect Greater and Lesser Basel (downstream):

* Schwarzwaldbrücke (built 1972)
* Wettsteinbrücke (current structure built 1998, original bridge built 1879)
* [[Mittlere Rheinbrücke]] ({{lit|Middle Rhine bridge}}, current structure built 1905, original bridge built 1225 as the first bridge to cross the Rhine)
* Johanniterbrücke (built 1967)
* Dreirosenbrücke (built 2004, original bridge built 1935)

==== Ferries ====
A somewhat anachronistic yet still widely used system of [[reaction ferry]] boats links the two shores. There are four ferries, each situated approximately midway between two bridges. Each is attached by a cable to a block that rides along another cable spanning the river at a height of {{convert|20|to|30|m|abbr=off}}. To cross the river, the ferryman orients the boat around 45° from the current so that the current pushes the boat across the river. This form of transportation is therefore completely hydraulically driven, requiring no outside energy source.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706231810/http://www.faehri.ch/ Home/Aktuell – Fähri Verein Basel]
[[File:River ferry (Basel, Switzerland).jpg|thumb|Cable ferry across the Rhine in Basel]]

==== Public transport ====
[[File:Basel - Straßenbahnnetzplan.png|thumb|Basel tram network]]
Basel has an extensive public transportation network serving the city and connecting to surrounding suburbs, including a large [[Basel Trams|tram network]]. Today, Basel has the largest tramway in terms of kilometers of rail tracks in Switzerland.<ref name="Appenzeller">Appenzeller, Stephan (1995).p.55</ref> Historically, only [[Geneva]] had a larger one at some point.<ref name="Appenzeller"/>

The green-colored local [[light rail|trams]] and buses are operated by the [[Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe]] (BVB). The yellow-colored buses and trams are operated by the [[Baselland Transport]] (BLT), and connect areas in the nearby half-canton of Baselland to central Basel. The BVB also shares commuter bus lines in cooperation with transit authorities in the neighboring Alsace region in France and [[Baden]] region in Germany. The [[Basel Regional S-Bahn]], the commuter rail network connecting to suburbs surrounding the city, is jointly operated by [[Schweizerische Bundesbahnen|SBB]], [[SNCF]] and [[Deutsche Bahn|DB]].

==== Border crossings ====
Basel is located at the meeting point of France, Germany, and Switzerland; because it sits on the Swiss national border and is beyond the [[Jura Mountains]], many within the [[Swiss military]] reportedly believe that the city is indefensible during wartime.<ref name="mcphee19831031">{{cite news | url=http://archives.newyorker.com/default.aspx?iid=16248&startpage=page0000103#folio=050 | title=La Place de la Concorde Suisse-I | magazine=The New Yorker | date=31 October 1983 | access-date=22 July 2013 | author=McPhee, John | pages=50 | archive-date=14 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230210/http://archives.newyorker.com/default.aspx?iid=16248&startpage=page0000103#folio=050 | url-status=live }}</ref> It has numerous road and rail crossings between Switzerland and the other two countries. With Switzerland joining the [[Schengen Area]] on 12 December 2008, immigration checks were no longer carried out at the crossings. However, Switzerland did not join the [[European Union Customs Union]] (though it did join the [[EU Single Market]]) and customs checks are still conducted at or near the crossings.
[[File:Basel-blt-tram-10-stadler-882129.jpg|thumb|Tram in the city centre (Bankverein)]]

'''France-Switzerland''' (from east to west) 
* '''Road crossings''' (with French road name continuation)
** Kohlenstrasse (Avenue de Bâle, Huningue). This crossing replaces the former crossing Hüningerstrasse further east.
** Elsässerstrasse (Avenue de Bâle, Saint-Louis)
** Autobahn A3 ([[A35 autoroute]], Saint-Louis), crossing [[Mulhouse]], [[Colmar]] and [[Strasbourg]].
** [[EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg]] – pedestrian walkway between the French and Swiss sections on Level 3 (departures) of airport.
** Burgfelderstrasse (Rue du 1er Mars, Saint Louis)
* '''Railway crossing'''
** [[Basel SBB railway station]]

'''Germany-Switzerland''' (clockwise, from north to south)
* '''Road crossings''' (with German road name continuation)
** Hiltalingerstrasse (Zollstraße, [[Weil am Rhein]]). Tram 8 goes along this road to Weil am Rhein. The extension opened in 2014; it used to end before the border.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tram8.info|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110192710/http://tram8.info/|url-status=dead|title=Tram 8 construction information page|archivedate=10 January 2014}}</ref>
** Autobahn A2 ([[Bundesautobahn 5|Autobahn A5]], [[Weil am Rhein]])
** Freiburgerstrasse (Baslerstraße, [[Weil am Rhein]])
** Weilstrasse, [[Riehen]] (Haupstraße, [[Weil am Rhein]])
** Lörracherstrasse, [[Riehen]] (Baslerstraße, Stetten, [[Lörrach]])
** Inzlingerstrasse, [[Riehen]] (Riehenstraße, [[Inzlingen]])
** Grenzacherstrasse (Hörnle, [[Grenzach-Wyhlen]])
* '''Railway crossing'''
** Between Basel SBB and [[Basel Badischer Bahnhof]] – Basel Badischer Bahnhof, and all other railway property and stations on the right bank of the Rhine belong to [[Deutsche Bundesbahn|DB]] and are classed as German customs territory. Immigration and customs checks are conducted at the platform exit tunnel for passengers leaving trains here.

Additionally there are many footpaths and cycle tracks crossing the border between Basel and Germany.

=== Health ===
[[File:Basel 2012-10-05 Batch (61).JPG|thumb|University Children's Hospital Basel]]
As the biggest town in the Northwest of Switzerland numerous public and private health centres are located in Basel. Among others the [[University Hospital of Basel|Universitätsspital Basel]] and the Universitätskinderspital Basel. Private health centres include the Bethesda Spital and the Merian Iselin Klinik. Additionally the [[Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute]] is located in Basel too.

=== Energy ===
Basel is at the forefront of a national vision to more than halve energy use in Switzerland by 2050. To research, develop and commercialise the technologies and techniques required for the country to become a [[2000-watt society|2000 Watt society]], a number of projects have been set up since 2001 in the Basel metropolitan area. These include demonstration buildings constructed to [[Minergie]] or ''[[Passive house|Passivhaus]]'' standards, electricity generation from [[renewable energy]] sources,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=7407138|title=Geothermal project shakes Basel again|work=SWI swissinfo.ch|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-date=30 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530231218/http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=7407138|url-status=dead}}</ref> and vehicles using natural gas, [[hydrogen economy|hydrogen]] and [[biogas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.basel.ch/en/basel/urban_development/2000_watt_society|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111061314/http://www.basel.ch/en/basel/urban_development/2000_watt_society|url-status=dead|title=The Basel pilot region of the 2000 Watt Society|archivedate=11 January 2009}}</ref> A building construction law was passed in 2002 also which stated that all new flat roofs must be greened leading to Basel becoming the world's leading green roof city. This was driven by an energy saving programme.<ref>Carter, J.G. 2011, "Climate change adaptation in European cities", Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 193–198.</ref>

A [[Enhanced geothermal systems|hot dry rock geothermal energy]] project was cancelled in 2009 since it caused [[induced seismicity in Basel]].

== Economy ==
[[File:Novartis-Campus-Forum-3-Basel Photo-copyright-Christian-Richters.jpg|thumb|left|[[Novartis]] Campus Basel]]
The city of Basel, located in the north west of Switzerland, is one of the most dynamic economic regions of Switzerland.

{{as of|2016}}, Basel had an unemployment rate of 3.7%.<ref name="BSSKompakt">{{cite web|date=10 February 2020|title=Basel Kompakt|url=https://www.statistik.bs.ch/nm/2020-bevoelkerung-im-januar-2020-pd.html|url-status=dead|access-date=4 April 2021|website=Statistisches Amt|publisher=Statistisches Amt, Präsidialdepartement des Kantons Basel-Stadt|language=de|type=official site|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423031003/https://www.statistik.bs.ch/nm/2020-bevoelkerung-im-januar-2020-pd.html}}</ref> {{as of|2018}}, 19.3% of the working population was employed in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] and 80.6% was employed in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]].<ref>[https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/cross-sectional-topics/city-statistics/city-portraits/basel.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225015941/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/cross-sectional-topics/city-statistics/city-portraits/basel.html |date=25 February 2021 }} accessed 3 January 2021</ref> There were 82,449 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which women made up 46.2% of the workforce.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

{{as of|2008|alt=In 2008}} the total number of [[full-time equivalent]] jobs was 130,988. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 13, of which 10 were in agriculture and 4 were in forestry or lumber production. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 33,171 of which 24,848 or (74.9%) were in manufacturing, 10 were in mining and 7,313 (22.0%) were in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 97,804. In the tertiary sector; 12,880 or 13.2% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 11,959 or 12.2% were in the movement and storage of goods, 6,120 or 6.3% were in a hotel or restaurant, 4,186 or 4.3% were in the information industry, 10,752 or 11.0% were the insurance or financial industry, 13,695 or 14.0% were technical professionals or scientists, 6,983 or 7.1% were in education and 16,060 or 16.4% were in health care.<ref>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Betriebszählung: Arbeitsstätten nach Gemeinde und NOGA 2008 (Abschnitte), Sektoren 1–3] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013454/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=25 December 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref>

{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 121,842 workers who commuted into the municipality and 19,263 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net importer of workers, with about 6.3 workers entering the municipality for every one leaving. About 23.9% of the workforce coming into Basel are coming from outside Switzerland, while 1.0% of the locals commute out of Switzerland for work.<ref name=commuter>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070804051358/http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Statweb] {{in lang|de}} accessed 24 June 2010</ref> Of the working population, 49.2% used public transportation to get to work, and 18.7% used a private car.<ref name=SFSO/>
[[File:Basel - Roche-Turm mit Stadtansicht bei Abenddämmerung.jpg|thumb|Roche Tower, the tallest building in Switzerland]]

The first [[Roche Tower]], designed by [[Herzog & de Meuron]], is 41 floors and {{convert|178|m}} high, upon its opening in 2015 it has become the tallest building in Switzerland. Roche Tower-2 was opened in 2022, has 50 floors and is Switzerland's tallest building. Basel has also Switzerland's third tallest building ([[Basler Messeturm]], {{convert|105|m|abbr=on}}) and Switzerland's tallest tower ([[Swisscom-Sendeturm St. Chrischona|St. Chrischona TV tower]], {{convert|250|m|abbr=on}}).

=== Chemical industry ===
The Swiss [[chemical industry]] operates largely from Basel, and Basel also has a large [[Pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland|pharmaceutical industry]]. [[Novartis]],<ref name="GoingtoBasel">Chen, Aric. "[http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/travel/11goingto.html Going to Basel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202022936/http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/travel/11goingto.html |date=2 December 2008 }}." ''[[The New York Times]]''. 11 June 2006. Retrieved on 12 January 2010.</ref> [[Syngenta]], [[Ciba Specialty Chemicals]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ciba.com/|title=Home|work=BASF|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-date=28 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328112027/http://www.ciba.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Clariant]],<ref>Anna Bálint: ''Clariant clareant. The beginnings of a specialty chemicals company'', Campus Verlag, Frankfurt am Main/New York 2012, {{ISBN|978-3-593-39374-2}}.</ref> [[Hoffmann–La Roche|Hoffmann-La Roche]],<ref name="GoingtoBasel"/> [[Basilea Pharmaceutica]], and [[Actelion]] are headquartered there. Pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals have become the modern focus of the city's industrial production.

In addition, Basel is a major European hub for Biotech and Biopharmaceuticals. There are plenty of small and mid-sized start-ups. The vibrant VC scene also supports this.

=== Banking ===
Banking is important to Basel:
* [[UBS AG]] maintains central offices in Basel.<ref>"[https://apps2.ubs.com/locationfinder/search.do?GeoEntityId=29&GeoEntityType=6 UBS AG in Basel, Aeschenvorstadt 1]{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ([https://apps2.ubs.com/locationfinder/search.do?GeoEntityId=6592&GeoEntityType=7&EntityTypeId=0&Type=pdf PDF version]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}) [[UBS AG]]. Retrieved on 2 July 2010. {{dead link|date=March 2021}}</ref>
* The [[Bank for International Settlements]] (BIS) is located within the city and is the central banker's bank.
:According to the BIS, "The choice of Switzerland for the seat of the BIS was a compromise by those countries that established the BIS: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. When consensus could not be reached on locating the Bank in London, Brussels or Amsterdam, the choice fell on Switzerland. An independent, neutral country, Switzerland offered the BIS less exposure to undue influence from any of the major powers. Within Switzerland, Basel was chosen largely because of its location, with excellent railway connections in all directions, especially important at a time when most international travel was by train."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bis.org/about/origins.htm|title=Origins|date=15 March 2005 |publisher=Bank for International Settlements|access-date=23 May 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100609010907/http://www.bis.org/about/origins.htm| archive-date= 9 June 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref>
:Created in May 1930, the BIS is owned by its member [[central bank]]s. No agent of the Swiss public authorities may enter the premises without the express consent of the bank.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bis.org/about/headquart-en.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.bis.org/about/headquart-en.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Agreement between the Swiss Federal Council and the Bank for International Settlements to determine the Bank's legal status in Switzerland}}</ref> The bank exercises supervision and police power over its premises. The BIS enjoys immunity from criminal and administrative jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bis.org/about/basictexts-en.pdf|title=Basic Texts|publisher=[[Bank for International Settlements]]|access-date=24 June 2024}}</ref>
:The [[Basel Committee on Banking Supervision]] usually meets at the BIS premises in Basel. It produces recommendations such as the [[Basel Accord]]s ([[Basel I]], [[Basel II Accord|Basel II]] and [[Basel III]]), based on consensus among its members which are central banks and [[banking supervisor]]s.
* Basel also hosts the headquarters of the [[Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation]], which is active in the field of sustainable infrastructure (financing).

=== Air ===
[[Swiss International Air Lines]], the national airline of Switzerland, is headquartered on the grounds of [[EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg]] in [[Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin|Saint-Louis]], Haut-Rhin, France, near Basel.<ref>"[http://www.swiss.com/web/EN/about_swiss/company/Pages/facts_figures.aspx Facts and figures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301211059/http://www.swiss.com/web/EN/about_swiss/company/Pages/facts_figures.aspx |date=1 March 2014 }}." Swiss International Air Lines. Retrieved on 13 June 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://saint-louis.plan-interactif.com/index.php?detect=flash Plan interactif] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114033858/http://saint-louis.plan-interactif.com/index.php?detect=flash |date=14 November 2009 }}." ''[[Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin|Saint-Louis]] (Haut-Rhin)''. Retrieved on 25 September 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://www.swiss.com/web/EN/various/Documents/Direction_Basel.pdf Swiss International Air Lines Basel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725101654/http://www.swiss.com/web/EN/various/Documents/Direction_Basel.pdf |date=25 July 2011 }}." Swiss International Air Lines. Retrieved on 24 September 2009.</ref> Prior to the formation of Swiss International Air Lines, the regional airline [[Crossair]] was headquartered near Basel.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20020202015152/http://www.crossair.com/en/ourcompany/location/index.html Location]." [[Crossair]]. Retrieved on 13 June 2009.</ref>
[[File:ART Basel 2009-06-10.jpg|thumb|Art Basel (2009)]]

=== Media ===
''[[Basler Zeitung]]'' ("BaZ") and ''bz Basel'' are the local newspapers. The local TV station is called ''Telebasel''. The German-speaking [[Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|Swiss Radio and Television SRF]] company, part of the [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation]] SRG SSR, holds offices in Basel as well. The academic publishers [[Birkhäuser]], [[Karger Publishers|Karger]] and [[MDPI]] are based in Basel.

=== Trade fairs ===
Important trade shows include [[Art Basel]], the world's most important fair for modern and contemporary art, [[Baselworld]] (watches and jewelry, now discontinued), Swissbau (construction and real estate) and Igeho (hotels, catering, take-away, care). The [[Mustermesse Basel|Swiss Sample Fair]] ("Schweizer Mustermesse") was the largest and oldest consumer fair in Switzerland. It was held from 2007 to 2019 and took place in Kleinbasel on the right bank of the Rhine.

== Education ==
Besides [[Humanism]], the city of Basel has also been well known for its achievements in the field of mathematics. Among others, the mathematician [[Leonhard Euler]] and the [[Bernoulli family]] have done research and been teaching at the local institutions for centuries. In 1910 the Swiss Mathematical Society was founded in the city and in the mid-twentieth century the Russian mathematician [[Alexander Ostrowski]] taught at the local university. In 2000 about 57,864 or (34.7%) of the population have completed non-mandatory [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|upper secondary education]], and 27,603 or (16.6%) have completed additional higher education (either [[List of universities in Switzerland|university]] or a {{Lang|de|[[Fachhochschule]]}}). Of the 27,603 who completed tertiary schooling, 44.4% were Swiss men, 31.1% were Swiss women, 13.9% were non-Swiss men and 10.6% were non-Swiss women.<ref name=STAT2000/>

In 2010 11,912 students attended the [[University of Basel]] (55% female). 25% were foreign nationals, 16% were from canton of Basel-Stadt. In 2006, 6162 students studied at one of the nine academies of the FHNW (51% female).<ref name=BB/>

{{as of|2000}}, there were 5,820 students in Basel who came from another municipality, while 1,116 residents attended schools outside the municipality.<ref name=commuter/>

=== Universities ===
[[File:Johann von Venningen Bischof Basel.jpg|thumb|left|Inauguration ceremony of the University of Basel, 1460]]
Basel hosts Switzerland's oldest university, the [[University of Basel]], dating from 1460. [[Desiderius Erasmus|Erasmus]], [[Paracelsus]], [[Daniel Bernoulli]], [[Leonhard Euler]], [[Jacob Burckhardt]], [[Friedrich Nietzsche]], [[Tadeusz Reichstein]], [[Karl Jaspers]], [[Carl Jung|Carl Gustav Jung]], and [[Karl Barth]] worked there. The University of Basel is currently counted among the 90 best educational institutions worldwide.<ref>Christoph Eymann, BaZ-Article (German): http://bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/mehr-als-nur-wirtschaftsmotor/story/16443640?track {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304133750/http://bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/mehr-als-nur-wirtschaftsmotor/story/16443640?track |date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

In 2007, the [[ETH Zurich]] (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich) established the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel. The creation of the D-BSSE was driven by a Swiss-wide research initiative SystemsX, and was jointly supported by funding from the ETH Zürich, the Swiss Government, the Swiss University Conference (SUC) and private industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bsse.ethz.ch/ |title=Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering Website |publisher=bsse.ethz.ch |access-date=21 June 2010 |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423065655/http://www.bsse.ethz.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Basel also hosts several academies of the ''Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW)'': the FHNW Academy of Art and Design, FHNW Academy of Music, and the FHNW School of Business.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fhnw.ch/Schools-and-campuses/campus-sites |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523111731/http://www.fhnw.ch/Schools-and-campuses/campus-sites |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 May 2015 |title=Campus Sites |publisher=FHNW |location=Basel, Switzerland |access-date=23 April 2015 }}</ref>

Basel is renowned for various scientific societies, such as the Entomological Society of Basel (''Entomologische Gesellschaft Basel'', EGB), which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005.<ref>[http://www.egbasel.ch/ EGB website-Wer sind wir] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111232933/http://egbasel.ch/ |date=11 January 2016 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 14 May 2012</ref>

=== Volksschule ===
In 2005 16,939 pupils and students attended the ''Volksschule'' (the obligatory school time, including ''Kindergarten'' (127), primary schools (''Primarschule'', 25), and lower secondary schools (''Sekundarschule'', 10),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volksschulen.bs.ch/schulen.html |language=de |title=Schulen |publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt |access-date=24 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419171116/http://www.volksschulen.bs.ch/schulen.html |archive-date=19 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volksschulen.bs.ch/schulsystem.html |language=de |title=Schulsystem: Das Schulsystem in Basel-Stadt |publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt |access-date=24 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419071944/http://www.volksschulen.bs.ch/schulsystem.html |archive-date=19 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> of which 94% visited public schools and 39.5% were foreign nationals. In 2010 already 51.1% of all pupils spoke another language than German as their first language. In 2009 3.1% of the pupils visited special classes for pupils with particular needs. The average amount of study in primary school in Basel is 816 teaching hours per year.<ref name=BB>{{cite web |url=http://bsb.edubs.ch/publikationen/Bildungsbericht |title=Bildungsbericht 2010/2011 |publisher=Erziehungsdepartement des Kantons Basel-Stadt |location=Basel, Switzerland |date=November 2011 |type=yearly report |format=online viewer |language=de |access-date=24 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114084357/http://bsb.edubs.ch/publikationen/Bildungsbericht |archive-date=14 January 2015  }}</ref>

=== Upper secondary school ===
In 2010 65% of the youth finished their upper secondary education with a vocational training and education, 18% finished their upper secondary education with a [[Matura|Federal Matura]] at one of the five gymnasiums, 5% completed a ''Fachmaturität'' at the ''FMS'', 5% completed a ''Berufsmaturität'' synchronously to their vocational training, and 7% other kind of upper secondary maturity. 14.1% of all students at public gymnasiums were foreign nationals. The Maturity quota in 2010 was on a record high at 28.8% (32.8 female, 24.9% male).<ref name=BB/>
[[File:Basel 2012-09-16 Batch (5).JPG|thumb|upright|left|The Gymnasium Leonhard]]

Basel has five public [[Mittelschule|gymnasiums]] (''{{Interlanguage link|Gymnasium Bäumlihof|de}}'', ''{{Interlanguage link|Gymnasium Kirschgarten|de}}'', ''{{Interlanguage link|Gymnasium am Münsterplatz|de}}'', ''{{Interlanguage link|Gymnasium Leonhard|de}}'', ''{{Interlanguage link|Wirtschaftsgymnasium und Wirtschaftsmittelschule Basel|de}}''), each with its own profiles (different focus on major subjects, such as visual design, biology and chemistry, Italian, Spanish, or Latin languages, music, physics and applied mathematics, philosophy/education/psychology, and economics and law) that entitles students with a successful [[Matura]] graduation to attend universities. And one ''Fachmaturitätsschule'', the ''FMS'', with six different major subjects (health/natural sciences, education, social work, design/art, music/theatre/dance, and communication/media) that entitles students with a successful [[Fachmatura]] graduation to attend {{lang|de|[[Fachhochschule]]n}}. Four different ''höhere Fachschulen'' (higher vocational schools such as ''Bildungszentrum Gesundheit Basel-Stadt'' (health), ''Allgemeine Gewerbeschule Basel'' (trade), ''Berufsfachschule Basel'', ''Schule für Gestaltung Basel'' (design)) allows vocational students to improve their knowledge and know-how.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mb.bs.ch/schulen.html |title=Schulen |publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt |language=de |access-date=24 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428062714/http://www.mb.bs.ch/schulen.html |archive-date=28 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== International schools ===
As a city with a percentage of foreigners of more than thirty-five per cent and as one of the most important centres in the chemical and pharmaceutical field in the world, Basel counts several international schools including: ''Academia International School'', ''École Française de Bâle'', ''Freies Gymnasium Basel'' (private), ''Gymnasium am Münsterplatz'' (public), ''[[Schweizerisch-italienische Primarschule Sandro Pertini]]'', [[International School Basel]], [[BLIS Baselland International School]],<ref>Baselland International School – webpage: http://www.blis.swiss</ref> and [[SIS Swiss International School]].<ref>International School of Basel – webpage: http://www.isbasel.ch</ref>

=== Libraries ===
Basel is home to at least 65 libraries. Some of the largest include; the Universitätsbibliothek Basel (main university library), the special libraries of the University of Basel, the ''Allgemein Bibliotheken der Gesellschaft für Gutes und Gemeinnütziges (GGG) Basel'', the Library of the ''Pädagogische Hochschule'', the Library of the ''Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit'' and the Library of the ''Hochschule für Wirtschaft''. There was a combined total ({{as of|2008|lc=on}}) of 8,443,643 books or other media in the libraries, and in the same year a total of 1,722,802 items were loaned out.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/16/02/02/data.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office, list of libraries] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706231342/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/16/02/02/data.html |date=6 July 2015 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 14 May 2010</ref>

== Culture ==

=== Main sights ===
The red sandstone [[Basel Minster|Münster]], one of the foremost late-Romanesque/early Gothic buildings in the Upper Rhine, was badly damaged in the great earthquake of 1356, rebuilt in the 14th and 15th century, extensively reconstructed in the mid-19th century and further restored in the late 20th century.<ref name=20th>[http://www.baslermuenster.ch/sub_architektur_jh_20.html Basel Münster website – Architecture 20th century] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912042615/http://www.baslermuenster.ch/sub_architektur_jh_20.html |date=12 September 2012 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 4 May 2012</ref> A memorial to [[Desiderius Erasmus|Erasmus]] lies inside the Münster. The City Hall from the 16th century is located on the Market Square and is decorated with fine murals on the outer walls and on the walls of the inner court.
[[File:Basel 2012-08 Mattes 1 (209).JPG|thumb|Tinguely's Carnival Fountain (''Fasnachtsbrunnen'')]]

Basel is also host to an array of buildings by internationally renowned architects. These include the [[Beyeler Foundation]] by [[Renzo Piano]], or the [[Vitra (furniture)|Vitra]] complex in nearby Weil am Rhein, composed of buildings by architects such as [[Zaha Hadid]] (fire station), [[Frank Gehry]] ([[Vitra Design Museum|Design Museum]]), [[Álvaro Siza Vieira]] (factory building), and [[Tadao Ando]] (conference centre). Basel also features buildings by [[Mario Botta]] (Jean Tinguely Museum and Bank of International settlements) and [[Herzog & de Meuron]] (whose architectural practice is in Basel, and who are best known as the architects of [[Tate Modern]] in London and the [[Beijing National Stadium|Bird's Nest]] in Beijing, the Olympia stadium, which was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics). The city received the [[Wakker Prize]] in 1996.

==== Heritage sites ====
Basel features a great number of [[Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance|heritage sites of national significance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.parsys.000111.DownloadFile.tmp/bs.pdf |title=Kantonsliste A-Objekte:Basel-Stadt |year=2009 |work=KGS Inventar |publisher=Federal Office of Civil Protection |language=de |access-date=12 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928135920/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.parsys.000111.DownloadFile.tmp/bs.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011  }}</ref>

These include the entire Old Town of Basel as well as the following buildings and collections: <!-- updated to 2009 listing -->
[[File:Basel Elisabethenkirche innen.jpg|thumb|Elisabethenkirche (inside)]]

;Churches and monasteries :[[Old Catholic Church|Old Catholic]] ''Prediger Kirche'' (church), ''Bischofshof'' with [[Collegiate church]] at Rittergasse 1, ''Domhof'' at Münsterplatz 10–12, former [[Carthusian]] House of St Margarethental, [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] Church of St Antonius, ''Lohnhof'' (former [[Augustinians]] Collegiate Church), Mission 21, Archive of the ''Evangelisches Missionswerk Basel'', [[Basel Münster|Münster of Basel]] (cathedral), [[Swiss Reformed Church|Reformed]] ''[[Elisabethenkirche, Basel|Elisabethenkirche]]'' (church), Reformed ''Johanneskirche'' (church), Reformed ''Leonhardskirche'' (church, former [[Augustinians]] Abbey), Reformed ''Martinskirche'' (church), Reformed ''Pauluskirche'' (church), Reformed ''Peterskirche'' (church), Reformed ''St. Albankirche'' (church) with cloister and cemetery, Reformed ''Theodorskirche'' (church), Synagoge at Eulerstrasse 2

;Secular buildings:
[[File:Wildtsches Haus petersplatz.JPG|thumb|left|''Wildt'sches Haus'', Petersplatz]]
''Badischer Bahnhof'' (German Baden's railway station) with fountain, [[Bank for International Settlements]], ''Blaues Haus (Reichensteinerhof)'' at Rheinsprung 16, ''Bruderholzschule'' (school house) at Fritz-Hauser-Strasse 20, ''Brunschwiler Haus'' at Hebelstrasse 15, ''[[Basel SBB railway station|Bahnhof Basel SBB]]'' (Swiss railway station), ''Bürgerspital'' (hospital), ''Café Spitz (Merianflügel)'', ''Coop Schweiz'' company's central archive, Depot of the ''Archäologischen Bodenforschung des Kanton Basel-Stadt'', former Gallizian Paper Mill and [[Basel Paper Mill|Swiss Museum of Paper]], former ''Klingental-Kaserne'' (casern) with ''Klingentaler Kirche'' (church), ''Fasnachtsbrunnen'' (fountain), ''Feuerschützenhaus'' (guild house of the riflemen) at Schützenmattstrasse 56, ''Fischmarktbrunnen'' (fountain), ''Geltenzunft'' at Marktplatz 13, ''Gymnasium am Kohlenberg (St Leonhard)'' (school), ''Hauptpost'' (main post office), ''Haus zum Raben'' at Aeschenvorstadt 15, ''Hohenfirstenhof'' at Rittergasse 19, ''Holsteinerhof'' at Hebelstrasse 30, [[Markgräflerhof]] a former palace of the margraves of [[Margraviate of Baden|Baden-Durlach]], ''Mittlere Rhein Brücke'' (Central Rhine Bridge), ''Stadtcasino'' (music hall) at Steinenberg 14, ''Ramsteinerhof'' at Rittergasse 7 and 9, [[Seat of local government|Rathaus]] (town hall), ''Rundhof'' building of the ''Schweizerischen Mustermesse'', ''Safranzunft'' at Gerbergasse 11, ''Sandgrube'' at Riehenstrasse 154, ''Schlösschen'' (Manor house) Gundeldingen, ''Schönes Haus'' and ''Schöner Hof'' at Nadelberg 6, ''Wasgenring'' school house, ''Seidenhof'' with painting of Rudolf von Habsburg, ''Spalenhof'' at Spalenberg 12, ''Spiesshof'' at Heuberg 7, city walls, Townhouse (former post office) at Stadthausgasse 13 / Totengässlein 6, ''Weisses Haus'' at Martinsgasse 3, ''Wildt'sches Haus'' at Petersplatz 13, ''Haus zum Neuen Singer'' at Speiserstrasse 98, ''Wolfgottesacker'' at Münchensteinerstrasse 99, ''Zerkindenhof'' at Nadelberg 10.

;Archaeological sites: The Celtic Settlement at ''Gasfabrik'', ''Münsterhügel'' and ''Altstadt'' (historical city, late [[La Tène culture|La Tène]] and medieval settlement).

;Museums, archives and collections: Basel calls itself the ''Cultural Capital of Switzerland''.<ref name=CulTCapital>{{cite web |url=http://bs.ch/en/Portrait/culture.html |title=Cultural Capital of Switzerland |publisher=Canton of Basel-Stadt |website=Kanton Basel-Stadt |type=official site |access-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308160302/http://bs.ch/en/Portrait/culture.html |archive-date=8 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Among others, there is the Anatomical Museum of the University Basel, Berri-Villen and [[Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig|Museum of Ancient Art Basel and Ludwig Collection]], Former [[Franciscan]] ''Barefoot'' Order Church and [[Basel Historical Museum]], Company Archive of Novartis, ''Haus zum Kirschgarten'' which is part of the [[Basel Historical Museum]], Historic Archive Roche and Industrial Complex Hoffmann-La Roche, Jewish Museum of Switzerland, [[Caricature & Cartoon Museum Basel]], Karl Barth-Archive, ''Kleines Klingental'' (Lower Klingen Valley) with Museum Klingental, [[Kunstmuseum Basel|Art Museum of Basel]], hosting the world's oldest art collection accessible to the public, [[Natural History Museum of Basel]] and the [[Museum of Cultures Basel]], Museum of Modern Art Basel with the E. Hoffmann collection, Museum Jean Tinguely Basel, Music Museum, Pharmacy Historical Museum of the University of Basel, Poster Collection of the School for Design (''Schule für Gestaltung''), Swiss Business Archives, Sculpture Hall, Sports Museum of Switzerland, Archives of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, [[UBS]] AG Corporate Archives, University Library with manuscripts and music collection, Zoological Garden (''Zoologischer Garten'').<ref name=Museums/>

=== Theatre and music ===
[[File:2025-05-10 ESC Basel Drumherum 010.jpg|thumb|Metro decor for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2025]]]]
Basel is the home of the [[Schola Cantorum Basiliensis]], founded in 1933, a worldwide centre for research on and performance of music from the Medieval through the Baroque eras. [[Theater Basel]], chosen in 1999 as the best stage for German-language performances and in 2009 and 2010 as "Opera house of the year" by German opera magazine ''[[Opernwelt]]'',<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110107230642/http://www.basel-virtuell.ch/en/culture Basel: culture pure] basel-virtuell.ch. Retrieved on 24 March 2010</ref> presents a busy schedule of plays in addition to being home to the city's opera and ballet companies. Basel is home to the largest orchestra in Switzerland, the [[Sinfonieorchester Basel]]. It is also the home of the [[Basel Sinfonietta]] and the [[Kammerorchester Basel]], which recorded the complete symphonies of [[Ludwig van Beethoven]] for the [[Sony]] label, led by its music director [[Giovanni Antonini]]. The Schola Cantorum and the Basler Kammerorchester were both founded by the conductor [[Paul Sacher]], who went on to commission works by many leading composers. The Paul Sacher Foundation, opened in 1986, houses a major collection of manuscripts, including the entire [[Igor Stravinsky]] archive.
The baroque orchestras La Cetra and Capriccio Basel are also based in Basel.

In May 2004, the fifth European Festival of Youth Choirs (Europäisches Jugendchorfestival, or EJCF) opened; this Basel tradition started in 1992. Host of the festival is the local [[Basel Boys Choir]].

In 1997, Basel contended to become the "[[European Capital of Culture]]", though the honor went to [[Thessaloniki]].

In 2025, Basel hosted the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2025|Eurovision Song Contest]] at [[St. Jakobshalle]], becoming the third Swiss city to host the competition after [[Lugano]] in 1956 and [[Lausanne]] in 1989.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=2024-08-30 |title=Basel to host Eurovision song contest for Switzerland in 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/aug/30/basel-to-host-eurovision-song-contest-for-switzerland-in-2025 |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Museums ===<!-- This section is linked from [[List of museums]] -->
[[File:Basel - 2017 - Kunstmuseum Basel - Altbau.jpg|thumb|The [[Kunstmuseum Basel]], oldest public museum of art in Europe]]
The [[Museums in Basel|Basel museums]] cover a broad and diverse spectrum of [[collection (museum)|collections]] with a marked concentration in the fine arts. They house numerous holdings of international significance. The over three dozen institutions yield an extraordinarily high density of museums compared to other cities of similar size and draw over one million visitors annually.<ref name=Museums>{{cite web |url=http://www.bs.ch/en/Portrait/Kultur/Museen.html |title=A lot to see in such a small city |publisher=Canton of Basel-Stadt |type=official site |website=Kanton Basel-Stadt |access-date=31 August 2015 |archive-date=15 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015210545/http://www.bs.ch/en/Portrait/Kultur/Museen.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Constituting an essential component of Basel culture and cultural policy, the museums are the result of closely interwoven private and public collecting activities and promotion of arts and culture going back to the 16th century. The public museum collection was first created back in 1661 and represents the oldest public collection in continuous existence in Europe. Since the late 1980s, various private collections have been made accessible to the public in new purpose-built structures that have been recognized as acclaimed examples of [[avant-garde]] [[museum architecture]].
[[File:R0014764.jpg|thumb|The [[Beyeler Foundation|Fondation Beyeler]] by Renzo Piano, located in Riehen]]

* [[Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig]] Ancient cultures of the Mediterranean museum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.antikenmuseumbasel.ch |title=Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig :: Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig |publisher=Antikenmuseumbasel.ch |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706221409/http://www.antikenmuseumbasel.ch/ |archive-date=6 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Augusta Raurica]] Roman open-air museum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baselland.ch/docs/kultur/augustaraurica/e/menu/index.php |title=Augusta Raurica |publisher=Baselland.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425224429/http://www.baselland.ch/docs/kultur/augustaraurica/e/menu/index.php |archive-date=25 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Basel Paper Mill]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Basler Papiermühle}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papiermuseum.ch/default-1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205141605/http://www.papiermuseum.ch/default-1.htm |archive-date=5 February 2007 |title=Start-e |date=5 February 2007 |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref>
* [[Beyeler Foundation]] (Foundation Beyeler) 
* Botanical Garden Basel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Botanical Garden |url=https://www.unibas.ch/en/University/University-Society/Botanical-Garden.html |access-date=23 March 2025 |website=[[University of Basel]] via Wayback Machine}}</ref>
* [[Caricature & Cartoon Museum Basel]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Karikatur & Cartoon Museum Basel}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cartoonmuseum.ch/ |title=Karikatur & Cartoon Museum Basel – home |language=de |publisher=Cartoonmuseum.ch |date=29 April 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=29 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529164015/http://www.cartoonmuseum.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Dollhouse Museum]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Puppenhausmuseum}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.puppenhausmuseum.ch/ |title=Puppenhausmuseum Basel: Startpage |publisher=Puppenhausmuseum.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=15 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315100143/http://www.puppenhausmuseum.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a museum housing the largest teddy bear collection in Europe.
* Foundation Fernet Branca ({{langx|fr|link=no|Fondation Fernet Branca}}) in [[Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin]] near Basel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fondationfernet-branca.org |title=Foundation Fernet Branca |publisher=fondationfernet-branca.org |access-date=12 January 2015 |archive-date=14 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314042920/http://fondationfernet-branca.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Modern art collection.
* [[Basel Historical Museum|Historical Museum Basel]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Historisches Museum Basel}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hmb.ch/ |title=Historisches Museum Basel |publisher=Hmb.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=14 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314074153/http://www.hmb.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Kunsthalle Basel]] Modern and contemporary art museum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kunsthallebasel.ch |title=Kunsthalle Basel · Aktuelle Ausstellungen |publisher=Kunsthallebasel.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425135424/http://www.kunsthallebasel.ch/ |archive-date=25 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Kunstmuseum Basel]] [[Upper Rhine|Upper Rhenish]] and [[Flemish painting]]s, drawings from 1400 to 1600 and 19th- to 21st-century art<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/en/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110011257/http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/en/ |archive-date=10 January 2008 |title=Kunstmuseum Basel &#124; Home |date=10 January 2008 |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref>
* Monteverdi Automuseum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tobiasullrich.de/monteverdi/museum/ |title=MONTEVERDI Car Collection Monteverdi Museum |publisher=Tobiasullrich.de |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403074425/http://www.tobiasullrich.de/monteverdi/museum/ |archive-date=3 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Museum of Cultures Basel]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Museum der Kulturen Basel}}) Large collections on European and non-European cultural life<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mkb.ch |title=Museum der Kulturen Basel |publisher=Mkb.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721014608/http://www.mkb.ch/ |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Museum of Contemporary Art (Basel)|Museum of Contemporary Art]] Art from the 1960s up to the present<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/de/museum-fuer-gegenwartskunst-mit-emanuel-hoffmannn-stiftung1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224544/http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/de/museum-fuer-gegenwartskunst-mit-emanuel-hoffmannn-stiftung1.html |archive-date=26 September 2007 |title=Kunstmuseum Basel – Museum für Gegenwartskunst mit Emanuel Hoffmann-Stiftung |date=31 December 2007 |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref>
* [[Music Museum (Basel)|Music Museum]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Musikmuseum}}) of the Basel Historic Museum
* [[Natural History Museum of Basel]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Naturhistorisches Museum Basel}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nmb.bs.ch |title=Naturhistorisches Museum Basel &#124; Home |publisher=Nmb.bs.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=26 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426032641/http://www.nmb.bs.ch/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Pharmazie-Historisches Museum der Universität Basel]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaziemuseum.ch |title=Pharmazie-Historisches Museum der Universität Basel |publisher=pharmaziemuseum.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401005147/http://pharmaziemuseum.ch/ |archive-date=1 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Schaulager]] Modern and contemporary art museum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.schaulager.org/en/index.php?news=true |title=Schaulager Modern and contemporary art museum |publisher=Schaulager |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713180652/http://www.schaulager.org/en/index.php?news=true |archive-date=13 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Swiss Architecture Museum]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Schweizerisches Architekturmuseum}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.architekturmuseum.ch |title=S AM – Home |publisher=Architekturmuseum.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212193536/http://www.architekturmuseum.ch/ |archive-date=12 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Tinguely Museum]] Life and work of the major Swiss iron sculptor [[Jean Tinguely]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tinguely.ch/ |title=Museum Jean Tinguely Basel |publisher=Tinguely.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=10 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310020256/http://www.tinguely.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Jewish Musem of Switzerland|Jewish Museum of Switzerland]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Jewish Museum of Switzerland |url=http://www.juedisches-museum.ch/ |location=Basel, Switzerland |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-date=29 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929181622/http://juedisches-museum.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Events ===
The city of Basel is a centre for numerous fairs and events all year round. One of the most important fairs for contemporary art worldwide is the [[Art Basel]] which was founded in 1970 by Ernst Beyeler and takes place in June each year. [[Baselworld]], the watch and jewellery show (''Uhren- und Schmuckmesse'') one of the biggest fairs of its kind in Europe is held every year as well, and attracts a great number of tourists and dealers to the city. Live marketing company and fair organizer [[MCH Group]] has its head office in Basel.

[[File:Top Secret Drum Corps.jpg|thumb|Top Secret Drum Corps at the 2009 Basel Tattoo]]
The [[carnival]] of the city of Basel (''[[Carnival of Basel|Basler Fasnacht]]'') is a major cultural event in the year. The carnival is the biggest in Switzerland and attracts large crowds every year, despite the fact that it starts at exactly four o'clock in the morning (''Morgestraich'') on a winter Monday. The Fasnacht asserts Basel's Protestant history by commencing the revelry five days after [[Ash Wednesday]] and continuing exactly 72 hours. Almost all study and work in the old city cease. Dozens of fife and drum clubs parade in medieval guild tradition with fantastical masks and illuminated lanterns.

[[Basel Tattoo]], founded in 2006 by the local [[Top Secret Drum Corps]], has grown to be the world's second largest military tattoo in terms of performers and budget after the [[Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo|Edinburgh Military Tattoo]].<ref name="swissinfo">[https://archive.today/20130115202332/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Home/Archive/Basels_tattoo_spins_to_success.html?cid=995834 Basel's tattoo spins to success]. swissinfo.ch, written 2008-7-15, retrieved 13 July 2012</ref> The Basel Tattoo annual parade, with an estimated 125,000 visitors, is considered the largest event in Basel. The event is now sponsored by the [[Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport|Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS)]], making it the official [[military tattoo]] of Switzerland.

The city hosted the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2025]] at the [[St. Jakobshalle]] arena.[https://eurovision.tv/story/basel-will-host-eurovision-song-contest-2025?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZfEUAWmVmvPxRsaO4wjO6Cc3cE-k_HcKCvbjMXP1OzIVtqiXOGAAMLCt4_aem_m89G9CucLjoWT42R8-xOVQ]

=== Cuisine ===
There are a number of culinary specialties originating in Basel, including ''[[Basler Läckerli]]'' cookies and ''[[Mässmogge]]'' candies. Being located in the meeting place between Switzerland, France and Germany the culinary landscape as a whole is very varied and diverse, making it a city with a great number of restaurants of all sorts.

=== Zoo ===
[[File:ZolliAntelopeHouse2.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Antelope]] House at Zoo Basel]]
[[Zoo Basel]] is, with over 1.7&nbsp;million visitors per year,<ref name="2011 visitors">[http://bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/Trotz-Grossbaustelle-Besucherrekord-beim-Zolli/story/10759447 {{in lang|de}} Besucherrekord beim Zolli] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604200133/http://bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/Trotz-Grossbaustelle-Besucherrekord-beim-Zolli/story/10759447 |date=4 June 2012 }}. [[Basler Zeitung]], published 23 February 2012</ref> the most visited tourist attraction in Basel and the second most visited tourist attraction in Switzerland.<ref name="visitors">[http://www.20min.ch/news/basel/story/25637966 {{in lang|de}} Zolli beliebt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307122412/http://www.20min.ch/news/basel/story/25637966 |date=7 March 2012 }}. [[20 Minuten|20min.ch]], published 23 February 2009</ref>

Established in 1874, Zoo Basel is the oldest zoo in Switzerland and, by number of animals, the largest. Through its history, Zoo Basel has had several breeding successes, such as the first worldwide [[Indian rhinoceros]] birth<ref name="Panzernashornhaus">[http://www.zoobasel.ch/aktuell/detail.php?NEWSID=37 {{in lang|de}} Eröffnung des Panzernashornhauses] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003315/http://www.zoobasel.ch/aktuell/detail.php?NEWSID=37 |date=21 February 2014 }}. Zoo Basel, written 2006-09-26, retrieved 3 December 2009</ref> and [[Greater flamingo]] hatch<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bazonline.ch/basel/dossier/zoo-basel/Zolli-feiert-50-Jahre-Flamingozucht-und-Flamingosforschung/story/26419827|title=Zoo celebrates 50 years of flamingo breeding|newspaper=Basler Zeitung|date=13 August 2008|access-date=21 March 2010|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322081331/https://bazonline.ch/basel/dossier/zoo-basel/Zolli-feiert-50-Jahre-Flamingozucht-und-Flamingosforschung/story/26419827|archive-date=22 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> in a zoo. These and other achievements led ''[[Forbes]]'' Travel to rank Zoo Basel as one of the fifteen best zoos in the world in 2008.<ref name="Forbes">[http://www.getlisty.com/preview/worlds-best-zoos/ Forbes Travel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227032008/http://www.getlisty.com/preview/worlds-best-zoos/ |date=27 December 2010 }}. GetListy, retrieved 26 March 2010</ref>

Despite its international fame, Basel's population remains attached to Zoo Basel, which is entirely surrounded by the city of Basel. Evidence of this is the millions of donations money each year, as well as Zoo Basel's unofficial name: locals lovingly call "their" zoo "''Zolli''" by which is it known throughout Basel and most of Switzerland.

=== Sport ===
[[File:Basel, St.-Jakob-Park- pic05.jpg|thumb|[[St. Jakob-Park]]]]

Amongst its major sports venues, Basel features a large [[St. Jakob-Park|football stadium]] that has been awarded four stars by [[UEFA]], a modern ice hockey arena, and a sports hall.

The [[association football|football]] club [[FC Basel]] is successful and in recognition of this the city was one of the Swiss venues for the [[UEFA Euro 2008|2008 European Championships]], along with [[Geneva]], [[Zürich]] and [[Bern]]. The championships were jointly hosted by Switzerland and [[Austria]]. [[BSC Old Boys]] and [[Concordia Basel]] are the other football teams in Basel.

Among the most popular sports in Switzerland is [[ice hockey]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://popular-swiss-sports.all-about-switzerland.info/| title=Popular sports in Switzerland| publisher=popular-swiss-sports.all-about-switzerland.info| access-date=10 July 2011| archive-date=10 August 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810184111/http://popular-swiss-sports.all-about-switzerland.info/| url-status=live}}</ref> Basel is home to [[EHC Basel]], who play in the [[Swiss League]] (SL), the second tier of the Swiss ice hockey league system. They play their home games in the 6,700-seater [[St. Jakob Arena]]. The team previously played in the [[National League (ice hockey)|National League]] but filed for bankruptcy after the [[2013-14 National League B season|2013–14 Swiss League season]].

Basketball has a very small but faithful fan base. The top division, called the [[Swiss Basketball League|SBL]], is a semi-professional league and has one team from the Basel region, the "Birstal Starwings". As in most European countries, but unlike the U.S., Switzerland has a club-based rather than a school-based competition system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unibaselbasket.ch/english.html|title=English|website=Uni Basel Basket – Der Basketball Verein aus Basel|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=27 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627050225/http://www.unibaselbasket.ch/english.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Starwings Basel]] are the only first division basketball team in [[German-speaking Switzerland]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160924162534/http://www.indoorsports.ch/de/alle/detail-alle-sportarten/news/detail/News/starwings-die-exoten-aus-basel/ Starwings – die Exoten aus Basel]}}, indoorsports.ch {{in lang|de}}, accessed 5 September 2015.</ref>

A large indoor tennis event takes place in Basel every October. Some of the best [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]]-professionals play every year at the [[Davidoff Swiss Indoors|Swiss Indoors]], previously including Switzerland's biggest sporting hero [[Roger Federer]], a Basel native who describes the city as "one of the most beautiful cities in the world".

In July 2022, the women's water polo players of the WSV Basel secured their 11th national championship title.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Isabel Langer |title= Die Meistertrophäe geht nach Basel: Die Wasserballerinnen des WSV Basel sichern sich den 11. Meistertitel|url=https://www.bzbasel.ch/sport/basel/wasserball-die-meistertrophaee-geht-nach-basel-die-wasserballerinnen-des-wsv-basel-sichern-sich-den-11-meistertitel-ld.2312504 |accessdate=26 July 2022 |work=BZBasel.ch |date=2 July 2022 |language=German}}</ref>

[[Basel GAA]], a [[Gaelic games]] club, is also located in Basel. [[Basel Dragons AFC]] have been playing [[Australian rules football|Australian Football]] in the [[AFL Switzerland]] league since 2019.

The annual [[Basel Rhine Swim]] draws several thousand visitors to the city to swim in or float on the Rhine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Swimming in the Rhine in Basel|date=8 June 2014|url=http://www.lifeinbasel.com/2014/06/09/swimming-in-the-rhine-in-basel/|publisher=Life in Basel|access-date=24 July 2015|archive-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724204431/http://www.lifeinbasel.com/2014/06/09/swimming-in-the-rhine-in-basel/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The headquarters of the [[International Handball Federation|IHF]] (International Handball Federation) is located in Basel.

== Notable people ==
Notable people who were born or grew up in Basel:
* [[Gaspard Bauhin]] (1560–1624), botanist and anatomist<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Bauhin, Gaspard |volume= 3 | page = 539 |short= 1 }}</ref> 
* [[Matthäus Merian the Elder]] (1593–1650), engraver<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Merian, Matthew |volume= 18 |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort| pages = 164–165 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Johannes Buxtorf II]] (1599–1664), Protestant [[Christian Hebraist]]<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Buxtorf, Johannes (1599–1664) |volume= 4 | page = 894 |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Johannes Jakob Buxtorf]] (1645–1705), professor of Hebrew 
* [[Jacob Bernoulli]] (1654–1705), mathematician<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Bernoulli |volume= 3 | pages = 803–805;see page 803, para 2|quote=I. Jacques Bernoulli (1654–1705)..... |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Johann Bernoulli]] (1667–1748), mathematician<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Bernoulli |volume= 3 | pages = 803–805;see page 804, para 4|quote=II. Jean Bernoulli (1667–1748),..... |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Johann Jakob Wettstein]] (1693–1754), theologian and [[New Testament]] critic<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Wetstein, Johann Jakob |volume= 28 | pages = 564–565 |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Daniel Bernoulli]] (1700–1782), mathematician and physicist, best known for his work in fluid dynamics, see [[Bernoulli's principle]]
* [[Maximilian Ulysses Browne]] (1705–1757), Austrian field marshal<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Browne, Maximilian Ulysses |volume= 4 | pages = 664–665 |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Leonhard Euler]] (1707–1783), mathematician, physicist and astronomer<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Euler, Leonhard |volume= 9 | pages = 887–990 |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Johann Peter Hebel]] (1760–1826), German short story writer, poet and Lutheran theologian<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Hebel, Johann Peter |volume= 13 | page = 166 |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Johann Jakob Herzog]] (1805–1882), Swiss-German Protestant theologian<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Herzog, Johann Jakob |volume= 13 | page = 406 |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Jacob Burckhardt]] (1818–1897), historian of art and culture<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Burckhardt, Jakob |volume= 4 |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort | page = 809 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Arnold Böcklin]] (1827–1901), symbolist painter<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Böcklin, Arnold |volume= 4 |last= Frantz |first= Henri | pages = 107–108 |short= 1 }}</ref>
* [[Friedrich Miescher]] (1844–1895), physician and biologist, the first scientist to isolate nucleic acid
* [[Rudolf G. Binding]] (1867-1938),  German writer
* [[Karl Barth]] (1886–1968), Swiss Reformed theologian, best known for his involvement with the [[Confessing Church]] and Christian resistance to Hitler
* [[Richard J. Baer]] (1892–1940), physicist
* [[Véronique Filozof]] (1904–1977), painter<ref>{{Cite web |title=Véronique Filozof |url=https://www.richardsaltoun.com/artists/1012-veronique-filozof/biography/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Richard Saulton}}</ref>
* [[Clara Thalmann]] (1908–1987), journalist, athlete, and militiawoman
* [[Harry Goldschmidt]] (1910–1986), musicologist
* [[Rudy Burckhardt]] (1914–1999), American filmmaker and photographer
*[[Avraham Yaakov Finkel]] (1926–2016), author 
*[[Arthur Cohn]] (born 1927), film producer and multiple Academy Award winner
* [[Marion Wiesel]] (born Mary Renate Erster; 1931–2025), Austrian-American [[Holocaust survivor]], humanitarian, and translator
* [[Christa de Carouge]] (1936–2018), fashion designer
* [[Peter Zumthor]] (born 1943), architect
* [[Margrith von Felten]] (born 1944), politician and lawyer
* [[Heidi Köpfer]] (born 1954), choreographer, dancer and video artist
* [[Carlo Strenger]] (1958–2019), Swiss-Israeli psychologist, philosopher, existential psychoanalyst, and public intellectual 
* [[Christina Surer]] (born 1974), racing driver
* [[DJ Antoine|Antoine Konrad]] (born 1975), DJ and record producer, known as [[DJ Antoine]]
* [[Martina Gmür]] (born 1979), visual artist<ref>{{Cite news |last=Latimer |first=Quinn |date=October 2010 |title=Martina Gmür: Stampa |edition=9 |volume=98 |pages=198 |work=[[Art in America]] |issn=0004-3214}}</ref>
* [[Roger Federer]] (born 1981), professional tennis player
* [[Granit Xhaka]] (born 1992), professional footballer with 100 caps with [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
* [[Fina Girard]] (born 2001), politician and youth climate activist<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fina Girard |url=https://grosserrat.bs.ch/mitglieder/15004068-fina-girard |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=[[Grand Council of Basel-Stadt]] |language=de}}</ref>

== Picture gallery ==
<gallery widths="133" heights="145">
File:St. Albantor.jpg|St. Alban Gate
File:Rathaus (2122646923).jpg|[[Basel Town Hall|Rathaus]], Basel's Town Hall
File:RFHS-3033.jpg|Protestant Cathedral
File:11-11-24-basel-by-ralfr-035.jpg|[[University of Basel]] (est. in 1460) and Martinskirche
File:Basel 2006 840.JPG|Gemsberg
File:Basel, Barfüsserplatz IMG 1501 2022-05-15 09.05.jpg|Barfüsserplatz
File:R0014737A.jpg|Münsterplatz
File:Basel, de Basler Münster KGS1597 met de Wettsteinbrükce op de voorgrond IMG 1537 2022-05-15 10.17.jpg|Wettsteinbrücke
File:BIZ Basel.jpg|Global seat of the Bank for International Settlements
File:Haus zum Kirschgarten 2008-03-30.jpg|''Haus zum Kirschgarten''
File:Basel - Spalentor.jpg|Spalentor
File:Basel (9486189627) (3).jpg|People swimming in the Rhine
File:Freie Strasse (Basel, Schweiz), August 2023.png|[[Freie Strasse]]
File:St. Jakobs-Denkmal von Ferdinand Schlöth (1818–1891). Schlacht von 1844 bei St. Jakob an der Birs (1).jpg|[[Helvetia]] statue 
File:Häuserzeile, Lange Gasse (Basel, Schweiz).png|Townhouses (early 20th century)
File:Villa, Gellertstrasse 25.jpg|Urban mansion (early 20th century)
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Tourism in Switzerland]]
* [[Rhine knee]]

== Notes and references ==

=== Notes ===
{{reflist|group=note}}

=== References ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{See also|Timeline of Basel#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Basel}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{HDS|7478|Basel (City)}}
* {{Citation |url=http://www.statistik.bs.ch/haeufig-gefragt/basel-kompakt.html |title=Willkommen in der Basler Zahlenwelt |publisher=Statistisches Amt, Präsidialdepartement des Kantons Basel-Stadt |website=Statistisches Amt |type=official site |language=de |access-date=2 September 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105917/http://www.statistik.bs.ch/haeufig-gefragt/basel-kompakt.html |url-status=dead }}
* {{Citation |first=Lionel |last=Gossman |title=Basel in the Age of Burckhardt: A Study in Unseasonable Ideas |location=Chicago, US |publisher=University of Chicago Press |date=2000 |url=http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/13917.ctl |isbn=0-226-30498-1 |access-date=2 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616101524/http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/13917.ctl |archive-date=16 June 2008 }}
* {{Citation |first=Lionel |last=Gossman |title=Orpheus Philologus: Bachofen versus Mommsen on the Study of Antiquity |publisher=American Philosophical Society |date=1983 |url=http://dianepub.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/lionel-gossman-orpheus-philologus-bachofen-versus-mommsen-on-the-study-of-antiquity-american-philosophical-society-transactions-73-5-isbn-142237467x/ |isbn=1-4223-7467-X |via=Wordpress |access-date=2 September 2015 |archive-date=26 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926112010/https://dianepub.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/lionel-gossman-orpheus-philologus-bachofen-versus-mommsen-on-the-study-of-antiquity-american-philosophical-society-transactions-73-5-isbn-142237467x/ |url-status=live }}
* {{Citation |editor-last1=Kearney |editor-first1=Shirley |editor-first2=Klaus |editor-last2=Brodhage |editor-first3=Cornelia |editor-last3=Ziegler |editor-first4=Andy |editor-last4=Warhol  |title=Basel: A Cultural Experience |date=2005 |publisher=Spalentor Verlag |location=Basel, Switzerland |isbn=978-3-908142-23-2}}
* {{Citation |last=Wood |first=Susan |title=The Proprietary Church in the Medieval West |date=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0198206976 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuqnVeycpNsC&pg=PA314 |page=314 }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Basel}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*{{official website|www.bs.ch/en.html}}
*[http://www.basel.com/ Official tourism site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080505033615/http://www.museenbasel.ch/en/index.php Overview of museums in Basel or basel museums] (archived 5 May 2008)

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{{S-bef|before=[[Vienna]], [[Austria]] (1965)}}
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