Basel:
Stadt and Landschaft

Performer in Basel's Fasnacht, a carnival that precedes Lent.

Basel, also known to foreigners as Basle or Bāle, is both a city and a canton. More accurately, it's two separately governed half-cantons: Basel-Stadt (the city) and Basel-Landschaft (the countryside).

Basel-Stadt is Switzerland's second-largest city and, in many ways, its most patrician. Although its population is only about 180,000, this wealthy mercantile, industrial, and port city has museums and cultural events far out of proportion to its size. And during the annual Fasnacht (see photo), Baslers combine pageantry with uninhibited partying.

Basel Stadt (City)

Basel Landschaft (Rural)

Swiss Cantons/Regions Index

Photo © Switzerland Tourism. All rights reserved.

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