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BASEL - SWITZERLAND
Basel (English traditionally: Basle, German: Basel, French Bâle, Italian
Basilea) 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 and national 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.
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, 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, with Novartis, Ciba,
and Hoffmann-La Roche headquartered there. Pharmaceuticals and specialty
chemicals have become the modern focus of the city's industrial production.
Some of the chemical industry's most notable creations include DDT, Araldite
and LSD.
Numerous major Swiss banks maintain central offices in Basel, giving finance
a pivotal role in the local economy. The importance of banking began when
the Bank for International Settlements located within the city in 1930.
Basel's innovative financial industry includes institutions like the Basel
Committee on Banking Supervision. Responsible for the Basel Accords, this
organization fundamentally changed Risk Management within its industry.
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.
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.
Basel is also host to an array of buildings by internationally renowned
architects, such as the Beyeler Foundation by Renzo Piano, or the Vitra
complex in nearby Weil am Rhein, comprised of three buildings by Zaha Hadid
(fire station), Frank Gehry (design museum) and Tadao Ando (conference
centre).
Education
Basel hosts Switzerland's oldest university, the University of Basel, dating
from 1459. Erasmus, Paracelsus, Daniel Bernoulli, Leonhard Euler and
Friedrich Nietzsche worked here. More recently, its 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
Karl Barth (theologian)
Black Tiger (rapper)
Lucius Munatius Plancus (city founder)
Jacob Burckhardt (professor in history, theology, philosophy)
Jacob Bernoulli (1654 - 1705) (mathematician)
Johann Bernoulli (1667 - 1748) (mathematician)
Johann Bernoulli (1710 - 1790) (mathematician)
Daniel Bernoulli (1700 - 1782) (mathematician)
Leonhard Euler (1707 - 1783)
Arthur Cohn, film producer (won 6 Oscars)
Dani Levy, film maker
Beat Raaflaub, conductor
-minu, columnist
Roger Federer, tennis player
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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