"Krone" travel report
Basel and the night of a thousand lights
Fasching, carnival or Fasnacht - no matter what you call the 5th season, it's back in season. Nowhere can you celebrate more atmospherically than in Basel. This must be due to the colorful lanterns - and the unique Morgestraich.
A drumbeat at 4 o'clock in the morning heralds the start on the Monday after Ash Wednesday. Exactly 72 hours later, it's all over again. Swiss clocks are known for their punctuality. But everyone should experience what happens in between. The Basel carnival is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - and has the potential to turn even the biggest party pooper into a carnival fan.
Because the Swiss celebrate the fifth season in a completely different way. Without Lei-Lei, Ballermann slogans and alcohol excesses - but with colorful candlelight, tradition and atmospheric exuberance.
It all starts with the Morgestraich
It transforms the darkened city center into a sea of lights from hand-painted lanterns. Thousands of costumed carnival revellers provide the soundtrack to the "three beautiful days" with drums, whistles and piccolos. 500 groups, known as cliques, parade through the medieval alleyways. Up and down the cobbled streets. Participants of all ages carry torches and their costumes refer to political issues and the local districts. Or they simply go all Punch and Judy, although his name here is Harlequin.
The highlight is the big parade, called Cortège, on Monday afternoon. The Guggen parade follows on Tuesdays, with brass bands playing in traditional wooden larvae. Last year, 200,000 visitors didn't want to miss out on the fun.
You end up in France by bike or on the Bim
But Switzerland's unofficial cultural capital also has a lot to offer away from the carnival. Basel Minster - built between 1019 and 1500 in Romanesque and Gothic style - is considered the city's landmark. The Fondation Beyeler is the most visited museum in the country when it comes to avant-garde art.
Of course, the physical well-being is also taken care of. In the Zunftstube zum Goldenen Sternen, for example, at number 70 Sankt-Alban-Rheinweg, you can enjoy a unique Swiss-style meal. The homemade game terrine with walnut salad is recommended as a starter. For the main course, the beef tartare with quail egg and pickled port wine onions. For the finale - we are in Switzerland after all - the chocolate variation or the cheese platter.
The accompanying red wine comes from France, which can be easily reached from the city center by streetcar or bike. The border triangle with Germany shows its best side in Basel and looks forward to being discovered. With this in mind: Grüezi to the Guggen!
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