Basler Weg: Basel - Aesch (Basel - Bern part1)

View from the 'Mittlere Brügge' Bridge

Hardly another monument in the city of Basel has become such a symbol of the city as the Mittlere Brücke. Opened in 1226, it is one of the oldest Rhine crossings between Lake Constance and the North Sea. The Mittlere Brücke was initially used for local traffic, in conjunction with the development of the route over the Gotthard Pass as an international trade route, in the 14th century it gained significance as a crossing over the Rhine for international trade. With the advent of electric trams, the old bridge had to make way for the new Mittlere Brücke in 1905. A copy of the old bridge chapel, the so-called “Käppelijoch”, where in the Middle Ages convicted criminals were sentenced to death, was erected as a reminder of the original construction.

Traditional Houses

Houses of the road Rheinsprung

Near Martin's Church

A few steps behind Rheinsprung

Near Museum of Natural History Basel

Going back the Rheinsprug

Münsterplatz (Minster Cathedral Square)

n front of the historic cathedral is one of the most beautiful squares in Basel, which is most exquisitely decorated at Christmas time. Visitors love to come here and soak up the atmosphere as they marvel at the magnificent lights - the square has a real fairy tale feel to it.

Pfalz: Viewing Platform behind the cathedral

The Pfalz viewing terrace in Basel offers fantastic views over the Old Town and as far as the border triangle. The word “Pfalz” is derived from the Latin word “Palatium”, meaning “palace”. The terrace high above the Rhine and behind the Münster Cathedral is so-called because it is situated close to the location in which the former palace of the Bishop once stood. On one side of the viewing terrace are steps that lead down to the landing jetty of the Münster ferry. On the other side there is a small gateway leading to the quiet cloisters of the Cathedral. Here you will find richly decorated gravestones of members of prominent Basel families from the 16th to 19th centuries

Bishop Court Hal

Open to the public

Basler Münster

Together with the Mittlere Brücke, the Basler Münster (Cathedral) is probably the most famous landmark in Basel. With its red sandstone walls, colourful roof tiles and twin towers, no other building adorns the cityscape of Basel like the Cathedral. Visit the former episcopal church, built between the years 1019 and 1500 in the Romantic and Gothic styles. The crypt, the chancel, the tomb of Erasmus of Rotterdam, the Gallus gate and the two cloisters are witness to a fascinating tale of construction over a period of several centuries. The piazza in which the Cathedral stands is today a popular meeting place and is often used for concerts and events. The Pfalz - the terrace offering wonderful views over the Rhine - is one of the most popular viewpoints in the city.

Offices

View from Wettsteinbrücke

Basel's second-oldest bridge is 371 metres long and is also the longest in the city. Description Today, you can comfortably walk from the Kunstmuseum across the Wettsteinbrücke to Museum Tinguely and – on hot days – float down the river beneath the bridge, and you can also travel directly by tram, car or bicycle from the main railway station (Bahnhof SBB) to the German railway station (Badischer Bahnhof) or vice versa. Tip: From the bridge you get a great view of Basel's cathedral – don't forget your camera! Because of the difference in elevation between Grossbasel and Kleinbasel, the bridge used to be known as the “sloping bridge of Basel” in former times – a humorous allusion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It takes its real name in homage to the former mayor, Johann Rudolf Wettstein (1594 – 1666).

Mühlenberg road

View from St. Alban Rheinweg

From here you have a quite close look to the Roche Towers and the Museum of Contemporary Art The Roche Towers, designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, can rightly be viewed as a modern landmark of Basel – but as the tallest office buildings in Switzerland, they can be seen far outside the city limits, too. These two skyscrapers are home to the offices of the Roche pharmaceutical group. Building 1 was completed in 2015 and, at 178 metres, was the tallest office building in Switzerland until it was overtaken by Building 2 in 2022. Building 2 is 205 metres tall and has a total of 50 floors. It is one of the most sustainable, energy-efficient office buildings in the world. _______________ The Gegenwart (meaning The Present in English), also known as Museum für Gegenwartskunst, is a separate branch of the Kunstmuseum Basel, exclusively dedicated to contemporary art. Opened in 1980, the gallery is housed in a former factory building, not far from the main home of the Kunstmuseum. The Gegenwart features works from the collections of contemporary art of both the Kunstmuseum Basel and the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation (which also operates the Schaulager). Works on hold at the Gegenwart include paintings, sculptures, installations, videos, and new media art by many of the most acclaimed international and Swiss artists such as John Baldessari, Georg Baselitz, Joseph Beuys, Miriam Cahn, Enzo Cucchi, Tacita Dean, Olafur Eliasson, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, Dan Graham, Andreas Gursky, Thomas Hirschhorn, Maria Lassnig, Steve McQueen, Bruce Nauman, Dennis Oppenheim, Gabriel Orozco, Robert Ryman, Richard Serra, Cindy Sherman, Wolfgang Tillmans, Jeff Wall, and Andrea Zittel, among many others. The Gegenwart also hosts temporary exhibitions, lectures, and special events.

Around St. Alban Church

This church built with a marked Romanesque style architecture is brilliant in appearance. In the finest of details you can still trace out the original Gothic style even though the church has undergone several renovations. Nestled in a green landscape, St. Alban church has a refreshing and relaxing outlook. The church also holds regular prayer and spiritual services and actively involved in the social and cultural scene of the city.

Following the ST.Alban Teich (St. Alban-pond)

St. Alban-­Tor (St.Alban's Gate)

The St. Alban-­Tor (St.Alban's Gate), dating back to ca. 1400, was part of the fortifications of the old walled city and is the gateway to a picturesque district of the city. The old gateway to the city still has its large wooden door and the heavy paling that was let down in times of danger to bar the entrance to the city. The St. Alban-Tor, known locally as the “Dalbedoor”, is now the gateway to the St. Alban quarter of the city, which, with its narrow, winding streets and historical buildings, is like stepping back in history to the Middle Ages.

Along St. Alban Teich

St. Alban Teich

way under the highway

Deers at Schwarzpark

A lovely park in Basel with an enclosure full of deer and a walking path around it . There is also a new small playground with a nice little water spout and sand play area. Nice for an afternoon visiting the deer and taking a picnic at the playground. The park has a parking facility and access routes and pedestrian bridges over the St. Alban-pond.

St. Alban-pond and deer at Schwarzpark

Way under the highway

Shpping center at St. Jakob Park

Path along the Birs River

Path along the Birs River

Path along the Birs River near the Park im Grünen

The Park in Grünen is a well-loved recreational area on the edge of the city. The asphalted paths are enjoyed by walkers, skaters and bicycle riders and there are also sports facilities, playgrounds and wonderful green spaces. The park, which was formerly known as Grün 80, was once the site of the summer house of Basel philanthropist Christoph Merian. Today the park is a popular excursion destination with a large pond, minigolf course, cafeteria, restaurant, children's playground and small shop.

Rüttihard Holzbrücke

Covered Wooden Bridge over the Birs River, Muttenz – Münchenstein

Kleinwasserkraftwerk Neuewelt

Electric utility company

Path and fields along the Birs river

Bruckgut and river

The Bruckgut country estate in Münchenstein is one of the most interesting, historical, cultural and architectural buildings, which is owned and inhabited by the 11th generation of the family to this day.

Bridges

Pedestrian, road and train bridges

Forest path and Information about Birs river

Heiligholzbrücke (wooden Bridge)

Die schöne, gedeckte Holzbrücke über die Birs aus dem Jahre 1915 bietet ein spezielles Ambiente für Apéros, Vereinsanlässe, Kindergeburtstage ja sogar für Hochzeits- oder Geburtstagsfeiern in natürlicher Umgebung hoch über der renaturierten Birs. Da es sich um eine öffentliche Brücke handelt, muss ein Durchgang für allfällige Spaziergänger gewährleistet werden.

Nature reserve

Reinacherheide Nature reserve

http://www.gruenguertel.ch/dev/detail.cfm?menu=details&fPlacesID=43&sprache=en

Reinacherheide Nature reserve

Reinacherheide Nature reserve

Biberpfad way and information

http://www.naturschutzdienst-bl.ch/index.php/wissen/biberpfad

Biberpfad path

Nepomukbrücke (Bridge

The Nepomuk Bridge over the Sulzbach was built in 1852 and renovated in 1964. The Nepomuk statue on the bridge is a copy of the bridge saint. St. Nepomuk is the patron saint of bridges, boatmen, rafters and millers.

Restaurant and mimigolf

Children playground

Bridge

Birs river

Path along Birs river

Way up to to Aesch

Aesch train station