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Basel (English traditionally: Basle
[ba:l], German: Basel ['ba:z@l], French Bâle [ba:l], Italian Basilea [bazi'lE:a]) is Switzerland's
third most populous city (188,000 inhabitants in the canton of Basel-City as of 2004; but
690,000 inhabitants in the conurbation stretching across the immediate cantonal boundaries, making this Switzerland's
second-largest urban area as of 2003).
Located in north-west Switzerland on the river Rhine, Basel functions as a major
industrial centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The city borders both Germany and France. The Basel region, culturally extending into German
Baden and French Alsace, reflects the heritage of its three states in the modern Latin name:
"Regio TriRhena"). It has an old university.
Communications
Basel has Switzerland's only cargo port, through which goods pass along the navigable stretches of the Rhine.
Basel-Mulhouse International
Airport, known as Euroairport, shares its facilities and services between Switzerland and France. The airport lies in an
exclave in France; a national border runs through the airport terminal.
Basel has long held an important place as a rail hub. Three railway stations -- those of the German, French and Swiss networks
-- lie within the city. A goods railway complex exists as well.
Industry and Trade
An annual Federal Swiss trade fair (Mustermesse) takes place in Kleinbasel on the right bank of the Rhine. Other important
Fairs include "Basel" (Watches), Art, Orbit and Cultura.
The Swiss chemical industry operates largely from Basel, which has grown into the modern focus of the city's manufacturing:
pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. Firms like Novartis (the Merger of
Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz), Ciba Specialty Chemicals ("Ciba") and Hoffmann-La Roche have headquarters in Kleinbasel. Major innovative
products stemming from the Basel area include such gifts to humanity as DDT, Araldite and LSD.
Banking has long held importance for Basel: major Swiss banks have their headquarters in the city, and the Bank for International Settlements has
been based here since 1930.
Basel is served by Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg International Airport, actually located in France.
Basel has Switzerland's tallest building, Basler Messeturm.
History and science
Basel traces its history back to at least the days of the Roman empire
settlement of Augusta
Raurica. The city's position on the Rhine long emphasised its importance: Basel for many centuries possessed the only bridge
over the river "between Lake Constance and the sea". In 1356 an
earthquake caused extensive damage in the city.
Basel became the focal point of western Christendom during the 15th-century Council of Basel.
See also: pharmacopoeia
Architecture
The Romanesque Minster, with its two (uneven) towers
forms an architectural monument which survived mediaeval earthquake. The tomb of Erasmus lies inside the Minster.
Education
Basel hosts Switzerland's oldest university, dating from
1459. Erasmus, Paracelsus, Daniel Bernoulli, Leonhard Euler and Friedrich Nietzsche worked here. More recently, work in tropical medicine has gained prominence.
Politics
Geo-politically, the city of Basel functions as the capital of the Swiss half-canton of Basel-Stadt, though several
of its suburbs form part of the half-canton of Basel-Landschaft or of the canton of Aargau.
Famous Basel People
Sport
Basel has a reputation in Switzerland as a successful sporting city. The soccer club
FC Basel continues to be successful and in recognition of this the city will be one
of the venues for the 2008 European Championships, as well as Geneva, Zürich and Bern. The championships will be jointly
hosted by Switzerland and Austria.
The largest indoor tennis event in Europe occurs in Basel every October. The best ATP-Professionals play every year at
the "Davidoff Swiss Indoors".
In 2002, the World Judo Championships took place in Basel.
Basel features a large soccer stadium, a modern ice hockey hall and an admitted sports hall.
Culture
Basel has a reputation as one of the most important cultural cities in Europe. In 1997,
it contended to become the "European Capital of
Culture". In May 2004, the fifth EJCF choir
festival will open: this Basel tradition started in 1992. Host of this festival is the local Basel Boys Choir.
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