5th Swiss-Sino Workshop Information for our Chinese guests

Basel visit (Wed 6 May afternoon)

Basel
Where the Rhine, one of Europe’s most important waterways, bends north and flows out of Switzerland towards the North Sea lies the charming city of Basel. This exceptional location at the heart of the three-country-triangle that joins Germany, France and Switzerland is what lends Basel its openness, economic strength and cultural diversity. Basel is Switzerland's oldest university city. Historic landmarks of the city include the large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. During a walk through the old town, past small boutiques, antique book shops but also shops of modern designers, a visit to the "Läckerli Huus" to try the traditional Basel honey cake is well worth your while. Basel is tradition-conscious and open-minded at the same time, a fact born out by several modern buildings designed by renowned architects such as Herzog & de Meuron, Mario Botta, Diener & Diener and Richard Meyer. Almost 40 museums make Basel the city with the highest density of museums in the country. Internationally known museums, such as the Basel Art Museum, the museum devoted to the iron sculptor Jean Tinguely, the Fondation Beyeler and the Museum of Cultures attract a great many visitors, as do several galleries and playhouses. Basel is the fastest developing economic region in Switzerland. It is home to Baselworld and Art Basel the most important international trade fairs for watches and jewellery and modern and contemporary art, respectively. Global leaders in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry – Novartis, Roche, Syngenta, Clariant and others – are headquartered in the Basel area. Basel is considered a first-rate location for life sciences and nanotechnology. This stimulating environment has given rise to a plethora of innovative research firms, for example in medical and biotechnology. Other industries also contribute to Basel’s reputation: finance and insurance, information technology, architecture and design. Links Basel city guide, city guide app, highlights